BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, April 29,
2014—Itzaziam (Pat Berry) closed relentlessly to pick of odds-on Bambino Glide
(Dan Dube) Tuesday night, winning the $73,500 final of the Raceway/Standardbred
Owners Association of New York Bonus Trotting Series.
Uninvolved early from post position No.
3, Itzaziam saw Wisenheimer (Yannick Gingras) and 93-1 Swishnflick (Larry
Stalbaum) both be put in the game early. Meanwhile, 1-4 fave Bambino Glide
found himself parked two turns, finally getting the lead between a 28-second
opening quarter-mile and a 57-flat intermission.
He continued his advantage in and out of
the 1:26.3 three-quarters, with Itzaziam a seemingly-uninvolved sixth from
third-over.
However, early troubles getting the lead
would bit the favorite late. Itzaziam made up nearly five lengths through the
rainy lane, getting to Bambino Glide by a half-length in 1:57.
Swishnflick nipped Wisenheimer for
third, with Rock of Cashel (Jeff Gregory) grabbing the final pay envelope.
For Itzaziam, a 6-year-old Harry’s Star
Ranger gelding co-owned by his driver & James Craparotta and trained by
Frank Scamporino Jr., he returned $32.80 (fifth choice) for his sixth win
(third consecutive) in a dozen seasonal starts. The exacta paid $65.50,
the triple returned $1,466 and the superfecta paid $3,676.
“I was planning on leaving with him, but
everyone else seemed to be leaving,” Berry said. “You can’t be too aggressive
with him early, because he gets hot.
“Early on, I thought we had a shot,”
Berry said. “At the three-quarters, I thought I’d be lucky to get third because
there was a lot of traffic, but he just kept going.”
A $30,000 series consolation was won by
Monroe County (George Brennan, $3.50) in 1:57.2.
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.
