BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, May 18, 2019—There were lacking in quantity, but there was some
quality to be found Saturday night (May 18th) during the
eliminations for winning Yonkers Raceway’s Art Rooney and Lismore Paces.
The 29th
Rooney began with two, six-horse $40,000 elims for the 3-year-old colts and
geldings.
Odds-on Air Force
Hanover (Dave Miller, $2.20) won the first elimination, though with few
style points. Away from post position No. 2, he controlled (:27.4, :56.2, 1:24.2, 1:52.4) after taking
over from Captain Malicious (Mark MacDonald).
Air Force Hanover did have to hold off a long, first-up Buddy
Hill (Brian Sears). The 2½-length lead in and out of the final turn was a
diminishing neck, with Price Hanover (Dan Dube) third and Captain Malicious fourth.
Goldberg (Montrell Teague) was an unlucky fifth, sitting a
trapped three-hole behind a tiring pocket-sitter and a gapping second-over
number…both of whom beat him to the line.
For Air Force
Hanover, a son of Somebeachsomewhere co-owned by County Club Acres, Joe
Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo & W. J. Donovan and trained by Brian Brown, it
was his second win and three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $26.40, the
triple returned $127 and the superfecta paid $343.50.
The second elim
for the Rooney saw Bettor’s Wish (Dexter Dunn, $5) stuff 3-4 favorite Blood
Money (Scott Zeron) in behind, then go the distance. From post No. 3, he laid
down intervals of :28, :57.2,
1:26.1 and 1:53.2, easily handling his pocketed rival by a
length-and-a-quarter.
Rollwithpapajoe
(Joe Bongiorno) sat a three-hole and photoed a first-up Branquinho (Tyler
Buter) for third
For second choice
Bettor’s Wish, a Bettor’s Delight colt co-owned by (trainer) Chris Ryder, Bella
Racing, Fair Island Farm and Kenneth Solomon, he’s won both of his ’19 tries.
The exacta paid $9.30, the triple returned $14.80 and the superfecta paid
$33.80.
The companion
event, the 15th Lismore for soph fillies, offered two, $20,000
eliminations race, though the first of those didn’t eliminated anyone.
A quartet of
lasses (after a defection) had Annie Hill (Sears, $2.90) move from last, then
pick off pace-setting As Time Goes By (Jordan Stratton) by a neck in 1:55.4.
Privacy Hanover (Jason Bartlett) was third and Mi Nina Bonita (Brent
Holland) fourth.
The second elim
was won by Queen of the Pride (Stratton, $2.40)—from post No. 2—assuming the
lead early and going the route (:27.2,
:56, 1:24.4, 1:53.2). Bestseller Hanover (Bartlett) moved from third and was a
solid second, beaten three-quarters of a length.
Rockn’ Philly (Victor Kirby) was a belated third and Rock N
McRoll (Dube) snapping Blue Ivy (Sears) for fourth.
The open draws for
both the Lismore ($109,234) and Rooney ($300,000) take place Monday afternoon
(May 20th) in ad advance of the Saturday, May 25th,
finals.
Saturday night’s
pair of $44,000 Open Handicaps were won by…
--Trot—Swansea
(Bongiorno, $8.20) in 1:56,
--Pace—Mac’s
Jackpot (Dunn, $5.40) in 1:52.
