BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS,
NY, Saturday, March 23, 2013--Yonkers Raceway's George Morton Levy Memorial
Pacing Series, 2013 edition, began Saturday night. A half-dozen, $50,000
divisions of Free-For-Allers went before the faithful, chronologically
contested as such...
First division--Odd-on Versado (Brian
Sears, $3) toyed with his five rivals, two-moving to the lead from his outside
starting venue, then widening (:27.2, :56.4, 1:25.2, 1:53.4). He was wrapped-up
4 1/2 lengths in front of Stonehouse Adam (Yannick Gingras), with Rockin'
Robert (Jordan Stratton) third.
Versado, a 6-year-old Dragon
Again gelding owned by KDM Stables and trained by Nick Surick, is now 6-for-11
this season. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $5, with the triple
returning $23.40.
Second division--Millionaire Annie'swesterncard (Gingras, $2.80), in play from
post position No. 5 (:27.4, :57.1, 1:25.2), held sway by a neck over Dancin'
Yankee (Sears) in a 1:53.1 match race. It was some six lengths back to In
Commando (George Brennan).
"Annie," a
7-year-old Western Hanover gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron
Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 and Panhellenic Stables, has won half of his
seasonal starts. The exacta paid $8.50, with the triple returning $25.40.
Third division--Nob Hill High (Eric Goodell, $21) did the hard way. Unhurried from post No. 5, he came first-up against 3-5 choice Clear Vision (Gingras). That one had taken over from early leader Electrofire (Sears) after a :27.4 opening quarter, then found a :57.1 half and 1:25.2 three-quarters.
Nob Hill High was a drifting
neck in front of a pylon-skimming Forever Just (Tim Tetrick), in 1:54.2 with
Clear Vision fading to third.
Fourth choice Nob Hill High, a 7-year-old McArdle gelding trained by Bruce Saunders for co-owners/breeders Robert Mondillo and Donald Robinson, is now 2-for-10 this season. The exacta paid $97.50, with the triple returning $218.50.
Fourth division--People's
preference Something for Doc (Gingras, $4.90), who's been doing good work in
the local Open Handicaps, was dominant--as in 5 1/2 lengths--on the front
end. Nose on gate from post No. 3, he rolled though intervals of :27.1, :58,
1:25 and 1:52.4.
Bet on the Law (Sears) was second,
with Second Wind N (Tetrick) rallying for third and Sapphire City (Brent
Holland) a tiring fourth after gapping from the pocket.
"Doc," a 5-year-old Western Hanover gelding trained by Burke for co-owners himself (as Burke Racing), Weaver Bruscemi and Strollin' Stables, has four wins in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $20, the triple returned $66.50 and the superfecta paid $142.
Fifth division--Code Word (Sears,
$8.70), from outside post No. 7, worked out a second-over trip to win in 1:55.
Sea Venture (Brennan), after stinging both 2-5 choice Casimir Jitterbug
(Goodell) and last season's series winner, Atochia (Gingras) through quick
early fractions (:27.1, :56.4) , moved from third.
He challenged Atochia toward the 1:25.3 three-quarters, before Code Word vaulted on by. He won by a length-and-a-half in 1:55. EZ Noah (Tetrick), at 35-1, photoed Casimir Jitterbug for second, with Atochia fading to sixth.
Second choice Code Word, a 6-year-old son of Western Terror trained by Conor Flynn for co-owners Barbara Bongiorno, Bill Lambos and Dionisios Liberatos, has won five of his 10 '13 tries. The exacta paid $145, with the triple returning $364.50.
Sixth division--Second choice Razzle
Dazzle (Sears, $6.10), leaving hard from post No. 4, was determined to cut the
mile against pole-sitting, 3-5 season-debuting Foiled Again (Gingras).
After a 27-second opening
quarter, Razzle Dazzle rated a :29.3 next interval (:56.3 half) before finding
a 1:24.4 three-quarters The leader gained some separation, taking a 2¾ -length
lead into the lane.
He whipped the sport's all-time richest pacer by three-quarters of a length in
1:53.1. Our Cullenscrown N (Tetrick) was third, with I Found My Beach (Holland)
fourth.
Razzle Dazzle, a 6-year-old
Real Desire gelding trained by Mark Silva for owner Ira Kristel, it was his
first win a pair of seasonal starts. The exacta paid $12.80, the triple
returned $37 and the superfecta paid $125.50.
The Raceway's five-night-per-week live
schedule continues, 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.
