YONKERS, NY, Wednesday, August 28, 2019—Of
the dozen 3-year-olds who entered this season’s Messenger Stakes, four were
trained by Tony Alagna.
Students of history should not have been
surprised, as Alagna has come within a dirty nose of winning Yonkers Raceway’s
second jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown four years in a row.
In 2015, Revenge Shark (Yannick Gingras)
won a three-horse photo, upsetting in the Messenger at odds of 9-1.
By contrast, in 2016, Racing Hill (Brett
Miller), in the midst of a $1.5 million season, fooled no one (we checked),
winning this race at five-cents-on-the-dollar.
In 2017, 22-1 Art Scene (Jordan Stratton)
closed inside, running out of racetrack against another 1-20 winner in
Downbytheseaside.
Last season, Stay Hungry (Doug McNair)
outgamed Jimmy Freight in what was essentially a match race.
“(The Messenger) is a race that’s very
important to us,” Alagna said from Lexington, KY. “Obviously, you have to be
lucky, but also versatile and quick off the gate.”
Of Alagna’s barbershop quartet for this
season’s 64th edition, three advanced to Saturday night’s (Aug. 31st)
half-million-dollar final…though not necessarily the one the trainer figured.
“I thought Captain Trevor was our best
chance, but he didn’t race well (last in his elim),” Alagna said. He scoped
sick and we’re not sure why—maybe the shipping—but that’s horse racing. We just
move on.”
Alagna is ‘moving on’ with U S Captain
(Jason Bartlett, post 4), Waterway (Joe Bongiorno, post 6) and Escapetothebeach
(Corey Callahan, post 7).
The trainer opined about the trio.
“ U S Captain raced very well last week
(second to Aflame Hanover). It looked to me as if he lost some momentum getting
jammed up behind the leader (eventual winner).
“Waterway (third to Aflame Hanover) seemed
to be doing his pacing at the wire, which is all you can ask. Last season, he
paced in (1):50 and 1 and won the consolation of the Kentucky Sire Stakes (Red
Mile), so we thought he’d come back a bit better, but he gets around Yonkers
very well.
“Escapetothebeach came first-up against
Bettor’s Wish (finishing third), and that’s been the story of his season. He’s
had some bad posts and bad trips, but I think he’s had a really good season.”
U S Captain and Waterway both entered the
Messenger off local overnight wins, a fact that wasn’t lost on Alagna.
“We wanted to try them there with the
Messenger in mind,” Alagna said.
As for the three-head monster looking to
take down pole-sitting behemoth Bettor’s Wish, “They came out of last week well
and are coming into the final training well.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
The Messenger goes as the seventh of
Yonkers’ dozen Saturday races, the card also featuring the 65th
Yonkers Trot ($500,000) as the sixth race, $124,334 Hudson Filly Trot (4th
race) and $122,224 Lady Maud (5th race). Those program pages
accompany this release.
First post is the usual 6:50 PM.
