BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, May 31, 2014—Odds-on
favorite All Bets Off (Matt Kakaley, $2.60) was both anxious and effective
Saturday night, winning the $300,000 final of Yonkers Raceway’s Art Rooney Pace
for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
In play from post position No. 4 as the
3-10 favorite, All Bets Off made the first lead in the 24th Rooney.
He then handed the baton to second choice Stevensville (Tim Tetrick) right
around a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.
The song remained the same at the 55.1 intermission and early in the
backstretch the second time.
That’s when
Maxi Bon (Dan Dube) moved from fourth, and he was in a hurry. He disposed of a
no-fight Stevensville just after a 1:23.3 three-quarters. Good thing for All
Bets Off that nothing was moving behind “Maxi,” as he was able to extricate
himself.
All Bets
off collared the new leader early in the lane, then held off a rallying Some
Playa (George Brennan) by a length-and-a-half in 1:52.2. Maxi Bon held third,
with Unlocked (Brent Holland) closing from last to grab fourth. Bondi Hanover
(Jason Bartlett) earned the final pay envelope, with Gold Rocks (Eric Goodell),
a tiring Stevensville and Ideal Fashion (Jordan Stratton) rounding out the
order.
For All Bets Off, a statebred son of
Bettor’s Delight co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Frank
Baldachino, Panhellenic Stables and Rosemary Shelswell, he’s now 3-for-4 this
season (earnings of $180,250). The exacta paid $15.80, with no triple returning
$44.20.
“Oh, yeah, I was worried,” Kakaley said.
“I thought giving up the lead (to Stevensville) was the right thing to do.”Then
I saw Danny’s (Dube, with Max Bon) coming fast and I knew I was in trouble. I
was lucky to get out. If I don’t, I’m shuffled out, and probably last
“He’s (All Bets Off) handy enough for
the half-mile , but I think he can carry his speed to bigger tracks, too,”
Kakaley said. “Every start, (All Bets Off) has been on his toes. Give
Ronnie (Burke) and his crew an A-plus. I’m just fortunate to have the drive.”
