BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, May 25, 2019—As a yearling, Bettor’s Wish sold for all of $20,000.
“But he’s not a
$20,000 horse anymore.”
So said co-owner
and trainer Chris Ryder Saturday night (May 25th) after his
charge—and driver Deter Dunn—made short work of Yonkers Raceway’s $300,000 Art
Rooney Pace. It was Kiwis on Parade during a cool and windy Westchester
evening.
The 29th
Rooney, for 3-year-old colts and geldings (actually, it’s an open event, but
why quibble?), turned into a romp for the odds-on ($3.70) choice.
One of the last
week’s two elimination winners, Bettor’s Wish drew post position No. 6 in the
finale. He found himself three-wide early, outside of Captain Malicious (Mark
MacDonald) and Buddy Hill (Brian Sears) and inside of Blood Money (Scott
Zeron).
Blood Money made
the lead before a 27-second opening
quarter-mile, then a :55.4 intermission. Going down the backside the
second time, Rollwithpapajoe (Joe Bongiorno) was advancing out of fifth before
he broke stride.
That allowed Buddy Hill a path out of third, and he was about
to leave the cones, Bettor’s Wish extricated himself from the pocket. The
one disposed of Blood Money soon after a 1:24.1 three-quarters, preparing to
bust the race wide open.
Bettor’s Wish slapped three lengths on his rivals in and out
of the final turn, then ran it up. The final margin was a half-dozen lengths in
a season’s-best 1:51.4. Second went to Branquinho (Tyler Buter), while Air Force
Hanover (Dave Miller) was third. That tandem offered solid closes, especially
‘Air Force,’ the faster (1:52.4) elim winner who was stuck behind the
eight–ball here.
Buddy Hill and Blood Money picked off the remainder, while
Captain Malicious—uncoupled stablemate of the runner-up—Price Hanover (Dan
Dube) and he misbehaving Rollwithpapajoe completed the order.
For Bettor’s Wish,
a Bettor’s Delight colt also co-owned by Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm and
Kenneth Solomon, he’s won all three of his seasonal starts ($180,000). The
exacta paid $24, the triple returned $242.50 and the superfecta paid $1,138.
“I thought if I stayed in here I could get stuck in a
two-hole trip,” Dunn said. “It was pretty intense going in the first turn. We’d
done a bit of work, but he travelled really good past the half. I decided to
pop (before the three-quarters). It could’ve been a bad move, but the horse
pulled through.”
“When I first qualified him, I thought he was a very good
horse,” Ryder said. “I drove him and he won the race, but broke a hopple.
“I knew tonight was a real test. He didn’t have the best of
posts, but I figured if he’s the best he’ll get there one way or the other. I’m
very thankful of the way Dexter drove him.
“This wasn’t an easy race for a driver and he did a great
job.”
Ryder said
Bettor’s Wish is off to the North America Cup. For his part, Dunn finished off
a helluva week, which began by winning last Sunday’s (May 19th)
Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs with Done Well.
Saturday night’s
pair of $44,000 Open Handicaps were won by…
--Trot—Weslynn
Dancer (Zeron, $5.80) in 1:54.4,
--Pace—Micky Gee N
(Jordan Stratton, $3.80) in 1:52.2.
The Raceway now
takes a hiatus until Friday night, June 7th.
