For Opinion, click here for View from the Racetrack Grandstand

Sunday, December 16, 2012

YR - TOBAGO CAYS WINS SATURDAY NIGHT 28G WINNERS-OVER PACE

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, December 15, 2012--Tobago Cays (Jim Pantaleano) prevailed in blanket photo Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's featured $28,000 winner-over pace.

Leaving from post position No. 2, he watched early as 2-5 choice Something for Doc (Yannick Gingras) seemed to be involved in a bit of early happenstance with another leaver in Fox Valley Tribal (Larry Stalbaum).

"Doc" eventually did make the lead (Fox Valley Tribal retreated) before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile, then rated a 57-second intermission. Noble Falcon (Jordan Stratton) offered minimal, first-up problems in and out of the 1:25.1 three-quarters, as Something for Doc owned a length-and-three-quarter lead into the lane.

However,  he was about to hit the wall. A Sweet Ride (Cat Manzi) ducked inside, while Pantaleano, who Friday reached the 6,000 career-win plateau, angled his charge out from third.

Tobago Cays earned the nod, winning by a scant nose in 1:52.4 "Doc" edged A Sweet Ride for second, with Noble Falcon and Eighteen (George Brennan) rounding out the payees.

For Tobago Cays, a 5-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover owned by Brian Nixon and trained by Ross Croghan, he returned $21 (third choice) for his  ninth win in 39 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $54.50, with the triple returning $173.50.

The Raceway continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule through next week, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.