BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, March 9, 2019—Locally-debuting Sam’s a Champ A (Jim Marohn Jr.,
$7.60) and locally-needs-no-introduction Smalltownthrowdown (Dan Dube, $9)
earned the glory Saturday night (March 9th), winning Yonkers
Raceway’s co-featured $44,000 Open Handicaps.
Pole-assigned Sam’s
a Champ A stalked 9-10 choice Bettor Memories (Jason Bartlett) though spongy
intervals of :28, 57.2 and 1:25 in
the week’s adult pace, then rolled right by. ‘Sam’ defeated a second-over
Shnonucrzydiamnd A (Brent Holland) by three-quarters a length in a life-best
1:52.4.
Bettor Memories gave it up and faded to third, with Nocturnal
Bluechip (Dube) and I’marocnrollegend N (George Brennan) rounded out the
payees.
For
second choice Sam’s a Champ A, a 7-year-old Down Under Dawn Ofa New Day gelding
owned and trained by Tahnee Camilleri, it was his second win in a pair North
American starts. The exacta paid $79.50, the triple returned $162.50 and the
superfecta paid $984.
The weekly marquee trot saw hard-knocking Smalltownthrowdown—from assigned post
position No. 5—just last (:28.3,
:58.4, 1:27.1, 1:55.4) after cutting the mile. Melady’s Monet (Jordan
Stratton), as the 9-5 favorite, received his memo late, slightly gapping from
second-up, then tallying to miss a nose.
Blenheim (Joe Bongiorno), Mostinterestingman (Bartlett) and Buen Camino (Matt
Kakaley) settled for the minor moolah.
For
third choice Smalltownthrowdown, a 6-year-old Cash Hall gelding co-owned (as
Allard Racing) by (trainer) Rene Allard, Bruce Soulsby, Yves Sarazin and VIP
Internet Stable, it was his second win in six ’19 tries. The exacta paid
$28.20, the triple returned $123.50 and the superfecta paid $306.50.
The season’s fastest local mile—1:51.3--was turned in by a down-the-road fave
Anythingforlove A (Bongiorno, $4.30) in the $35,000, ninth-race pace. A
subsequent victory by Gratian Hanover ($7.10) a race later gave the
Bongiornos---driver Joe and trainer Jennifer—six wins from as many Westchester
weekend starters.
Last but not last, it was the 25th career win for Smalltownthrowdown
and No. 8,995 for Dube.
