BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Tuesday, April 23, 2019—Rich and Miserable (Dave Miller, $11.80) snapped
odds-on Swansea (George Brennan) at the line Tuesday night (Apr. 23rd),
winning the $73,000 final of Yonkers Raceway/Standardbred Owners Association of
New York Bonus Trotting Series.
Away last among
the octet from post position No. 7, Rich and Miserable saw 4-5 favorite
Swansea—he of the 3-for-3 preliminary-round resume—make the lead well before a
:28.3 opening quarter-mile. Eight-holer Joey Bats (Jason Bartlett) floated out,
then moved to engage the leader from the second turn, passing a :56.3
half-mile.
‘Joey’ eventually
jumped in Turn 3, leaving a pocket-inheriting Whether or No Fi (Yannick
Gingras) as Swansea’s closest pursuer..Chasin’ Dreams (Jordan Stratton) was
making some inroads in and out of a 1:25 three-quarters, with Rich and
Miserable chasin’ Chasin’ Dreams.
Swansea,
meanwhile, owned a length-and-a-half lead entering the lane, but Rich and
Miserable was widest and fastest. From 10 lengths out of the intermission, he
whipped Swansea by a schnoz in 1:55.1. Whether or No Fi, Chasin’ Dreams and No
Excuses (Scott Zeron) came away with the remainder, while an outrun Omaha Omaha
(Tim Tetrick) and misbehavers Joey Bats and Henderson Seelster (Mark MacDonald)
brought up the rear.
For third choice
Rich and Miserable, a 4-year-old Explosive Matter gelding co-owned by Buter
Farm, Lynette Buter, William & Carol Fuhs and trained by Todd Buter, it was
his second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $34.40, the triple
returned $157 and the superfecta paid $602.
The series
was open to 3-year-olds and their elders who were non-winners of six parimutuel
races and/or $100,000 through this past Feb. 1st (winners over
$150,000 lifetime through that same date ineligible). Rich and Miserable also
earned an SOA-paid $10,000 bonus.
A $35,000 series
consolation was won by MVP Luke (Miller, $4, part of entry) in 1:56.4.
