BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, May 19, 2018—Yonkers Raceway’s foggy Saturday night (May 19th)
featured eliminations for both the Art Rooney and Lismore Paces.
With 10 3-year-old
boys entering the Rooney and nine sophomore girls in the Lismore, it was three
games of ‘musical chairs’ to determine next week’s finalists.
Odds-on favorite
Decoy (Dave Miller, $2.20) made short work of his four foes in the first,
$40,000 eliminations for the Rooney. Unhurried from post position No. 3, he
rolled to the past the half, then rolled away. The final margin over a ‘good’
surface was 8½ lengths in 1:54.
Minnie Vinnie
(Brett Miller) closed for second as the 32-1 rank outsider, with Major
Authority (Brian Sears) third and early leader Jimtastic (Jason Bartlett)
fourth. Matinee Fashion (George Brennan) eliminated himself with a break down
the backside the second time.
For Decoy, a son
of Somebeachsomewhere co-owned Brixton Medical Group, R A W Equine & Joe
Sbrocco and trained by Jimmy Takter, it was his second win in three seasonal
starts. The exacta paid $36.60, with no triple wagering offered due to the
short field.
“I was pretty
happy with him,” Miller said. “He went a good middle half. Now, we hope to good
for next week.
Miller has won
three finals of the Rooney Pace, including last season with Downbytheseaside.
Saturday other
40-large elim for the Rooney saw Trump Nation (Bartlett, $9) hold off both 4-5
choice Springsteen (Sears) and Babes Dig Me (Brett Miller) by a head and a
neck, respectively.
Pole-sitting Trump
Nation took over from early leader—and subsequent breaker—Handsoffmychips
(Brennan), then finish it off in 1:53.3, his fastest purse mile of the season.
Kwik Talkin’
(Jordan Stratton) wound up fourth.
For third choice
Trump Nation, a statebred son of Betterthancheddar co-owned by (trainer) Andrew
Harris and Evan Katz, he’s now 2-for-4 this season. The exacta paid $17.80,
with again no triple wagering offered.
“I wanted to
control the race,” Bartlett said. “When I saw the cheap (:57.2) half, I thought
I was in good shape, but halfway down the lane, when (Springsteen) came at me,
I thought I was beaten. He dug in.”
The evening’s lone
$20,000 elimination for the Lismore was won by Jewels Forreal (Dan Dube, $5.20,
part of entry) in a life-best 1:55.1.
Pocketed from post
No. 4, Jews Forreal was able to get out when entrymate Python Blue Chip
(Brennan) made a bad, first-over break in the final turn. Pass Line Bluechip
(Bartlett) cut the mile but could not last, beaten a head.
Checkered Past
(Mark MacDonald) was third, with Solitary (Brent Holland), Alexa’s Power
(Stratton), Believe in Me (Sears), Reign on Me (Brett Miller) and a recovering
Python Blue Chip also qualifying for the final.
Krushed Apple
(Dave Miller) was outrun.
For second choice
(part of three-headed entry) Jewels Forreal, a daughter of So Surreal co-owned
(as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi, it was her first
win in seven ’18 tries. The exacta paid $12.20, the triple returned $55.50 and
the superfecta paid $267.
The finals of both
events, worth $300,000 (Rooney) and $111,444 (Lismore), go next Saturday night
(May 26th). Open draws take place Monday afternoon (May 21st).
Saturday night’s
$44,000 Open Handicap Pace saw favored Evenin’ of Pleasure (Sears, $5.20)
repeat in 1:52.3 . The 8-year-old son of Dragon Again, owned by Gestion J Y
Blais and trained by Jennifer Bongiorno, is approaching $900,000 in career coin
after a 30th lifetime win.
Sunday matinees
return tomorrow (May 20th), with a first post of 12:35
PM.
