BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, April 5, 2014—The Ron Burke Stable ATM, officially named
Yonkers Raceway’s George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series, continued with
Round 3 Saturday night.
Burke trained the winners in all but one of the evening’s four, $50,000
divisions.
Since the last (grouping) shall be first, let us begin where we usually do,
with Foiled Again.
He and driver Yannick Gingras went the distance, though not without having to
work for it.
Drawing outside his six rivals, Foiled Again quickly negated that nuisance. He
went around pole-sitting P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett) before a 27-second
opening quarter-mile. From there, the match race was on. After a :55.4
half, these two separated themselves from the overmatched quintet.
Foiled Again found three-quarters in
1:24, taking a length-and-a-half lead into the lane. Then, P H Supercam took his shot. He dove inside and close ground, but could not
reach. Foiled Again prevailed by a head in 1:52. Rock on Moe (Eric
Carlson) was a best-of-the-rest third as the 66-1 rank outsider.
For Foiled Again, a 10-year-old Dragon
Again gelding, the $25,000 payday increased his lifetime loot to $6,105,968
(79-for-201). Burke co-owns (as Burke Racing) with Weaver Bruscemi and JJK
Stables. Foiled Again, now 3-for-3 in this series and the season, returned the
legal-minimum $2.10, with the exacta (two wagering choices) paid a season-low
$3.10. Triple wagering was a no-no in all divisions due to limited wagering
interests.
“The first two weeks, he didn’t have any
pressure,” Gingras said. “(Tonight), I wanted to air it out a bit.
“Even so, he was loafing around until he
heard (P H Supercam) coming. Then, he picked it up and he dug in. There
was no way the other horse was going by me.”
Getting in the way of a Burke blitz was
Apprentice Hanover (Jody Jamieson). After a pair of seconds (one in a
dead-heat) in this series, the Ontario contingent broke through.
Leaving from post No. 3 in the third division, Apprentice Hanover was away
third as Itrustyou (Gingras)—part of Burke’s 1-2 favored entry—set sail through
intervals of :26.4 and 56.3.
Apprentice Hanover then moved to the
leader, who offered just passive resistance. It was Apprentice Hanover grabbing
the lead before a 1:23.3 three-quarters, leaving two-leg winner Mach it So (Tim
Tetrick) first-up.
The lead was two lengths turning for
home, and Apprentice Hanover needed all of it. Mach it So moved to him but
missed a neck in 1:52.4. Third went to rallying Clear Vision (George Brennan),
part of the favored twosome.
For Apprentice Hanover, a 4-year-old son
of Somebeachsomewhere owned by Brad Grant and trained by Ben Wallace, he
returned $7.50 (third choice) for his sixth win in eight seasonal starts. The
exacta paid $22.40.
“He was a little funny in the first
turn, same as he was in the last turn in the opening round,” Jamieson said. “I
thought it may have cost me early position.
“It’s always a challenge for a
4-year-old in this series. All the credit goes to Ben (Wallace). He managed him
very well (in Canada). He wasn’t getting tested up there, and was racing every
other week. Going into this series, I wanted to make him work harder, because I
knew he’d be taking on top horses.”
Saturday night’s other Levy winners were…
--Easy Again,r,5 (by Dragon Again);
co-owners (as Burke Racing, trainer) Burke,Weaver Bruscemi,M1 and
Panhellenic Stbs/driver Brennan; 1:53.1/$2.40 (POE).
--Bettor’s Edge,g,5 (by Bettor’s Delight); co-owners (as Burke Racing, trainer)
Burke,Weaver Bruscemi,M1 Stb/driver Gingras; 1:52.2/$2.20 (POE).
As with Foiled Again, Bettor’s Edge is 3-for-3 in this series.
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 daily.
