IDEAL JIMMY, WESTERN FAME TUNE UP IN FINAL PRELIM OF LEVY SERIES

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

                                                                                                 

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, April 6, 2019—Ideal Jimmy and Western Fame have raced with distinction throughout the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.

Saturday night (Apr. 13^th) was no exception.

The tandem were advertised, each handily winning its respective Yonkers Raceway event. All told, four, $50,000 Free-For All forays were carded.  

Here’s the electronic pen to electronic paper compendium…

First division—In a race without a series round winner to date, Bettor Memories (Jason Bartlett, $13.60) rolled from second-over as 7-5 favorite I’m Some Graduate (Matt Kakaley) wilted in the lane.

The pole-sitting fave took over from Dr. J Hanover (Tim Tetrick), who immediately vaulted over his six inside rivals. I’m Some Graduate led through intervals of :26.2, :56 and 1:24. Control Tower (Joe Bongiorno) offered some first-up heat, but the fractions should have worked for the leader.

They didn’t…he wound up last. Meanwhile, Bettor Memories—from post position on No. 4—went by, whipped a third-over, 30-1 Mar Nien A (Greg Merton) by a length-and-a-quarter in a season’s-best 1:52.  Dr. J Hanover was an unlucky, trapped third, with Don Domingo N (Jordan Stratton) and Control Tower settling for the remainder.

For fourth choice Bettor Memories, a 6-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding owned by Gus Dovi and trained by Nifty Norman, it was his second win in eight seasonal starts (1-for-4 in Levy). The exacta paid $315, the triple returned $790 and the superfecta paid $29,362 (base $2 payout, 10-cent ticket worth $1,468.10).

Second division—Polester The Downtown Bus (Scott Zeron, $9.10), a week after being involved in an insane :53.3 half-mile, found the teletimer a bit more forgiving this time around.

After yielding to Always at My Place (George Brennan), he fronted the fray (:27.4, 57.4, 1:24.3, season’s-best 1:52), defeating a second-over Major Croker A (Dan Dube) by a neck. Lyons Steel (Stratton) arrived late as the 17-10 choice, with I’marocnrolllegend N (Kakaley)—uncovered into that :26.4 third quarter—and Always at My Place coming away with the minors.   

For The Downtown Bus, an 4-year-old Mach Three gelding co-owned by (trainer) Jeff Gillis and Ellen Ott, he’s now 2-for-5 this season/series. The exacta paid $40.40, the triple returned $116 and the superfecta paid $464.

Third division— Odds-on Western Fame (Dube, $2.30)—from post No. 4—stole a cheap second subsection (:27, 56.2, 1:24, 1:51) en route to victory.

He disposed of a gallant Rodeo Rock (Andy McCarthy) by a length-and-three-quarters. That one tried to leave, was forced to settle third, then fought the good, first-up fight into a :54.3 back half. More the Better N (Zeron), Pacing Major N (Stratton) and Endeavor (Bartlett) picked off the small change.  

For Western Fame, a 6-year-old son of Western Ideal owned by Go Fast and B&I Stables, Stephen Klunowski & Gilbert Short and trained by Rene Allard, he’s now 4-for-6 this season (4-for-5 in Levy). The exacta paid $5.40, the triple (three wagering choices) returned $10 and the superfecta paid $35.40.

Fourth division—At no point in the eight furlongs did Ideal Jimmy (Brent Holland, $5.60) look anything except the easiest of winners.

From post No. 6, he aired (:27.2; 57.1; 1:25.1, season’s-best 1:52) by open lengths, while under severe restraint. ‘Jimmy’ took down Ballerat Boomerang (Tetrick) by 3½ lengths. Rockin’ Ron (Kakaley) was third after missing four weeks, with a pocket-tiring, 7-5 choice Anythingthingforlove A (Bongiorno) and Somebaddude (Brennan) also earning appearance coin.

For second choice Ideal Jimmy, a 6-year-old son homebred Western Ideal gelding owned by D R Van Witzenburg and trained by Erv Miller, it was his sixth win 13 ’19 tries (3-for-5 in Levy). The exacta paid $22.20, the triple returned $92 and the superfecta paid $160.  

The Levy final series standings, as dutifully compiled by Bob (OUTP) Miecuna, accompany this release. The final is set for next Saturday night, Apr. 20^th (approximate purse $630,000). Note that the leaders are not necessarily the finalists until ‘finalized’ by the race office after an examination of the series conditions. Open draw for both the Blue Chip Matchmaker and Levy take place Monday afternoon (Apr. 15^th).

Saturday night’s $44,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by the lass Weslynn Dancer (Kakaley, $15.80) in a season’s-best 1:54.2, also the fastest local trot mile of 2019.