BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, August 24, 2019—It was
a ‘Non-Bettor’s Wish’ Saturday night (Aug. 24th) during Yonkers
Raceway’s eliminations for the 64th Messenger Stakes.
Bettor’s Wish (Dexter Dunn), the lone
$30,000 supplemental entrant into the second jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown,
summarily disposed of his five rivals in a non-wagering elim.
A pole-sitting second early in the $40,000
off-the-card elim, Bettor’s Wish took over from American Mercury (Tyler Buter)
before a 28-second opening quarter-mile. After a pedestrian, 58-second
intermission, Escapetothebeach (Corey Callahan) tried it first-up from fourth.
Bettor’s Wish led through a 1:26.1
three-quarters, eventually holding off American Mercury by a half-length in
1:53.2.
Escapetothebeach backed away but held
third, with Branquinho (Jason Bartlett) fourth. That quartet goes into next
Saturday night’s (Aug. 31st) $500,000 finale of the Messenger. Lyons
Johnnyjnr (Dan Dube) and Captain Trevor (Jordan Stratton) completed the
order.
Bettor’s Wish, a Bettor’s Delight colt has
hit the board in 22-of-23 career tries (13 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds,
$1,131,600). He now has eight wins and three seconds) in 11 ’19 tries
($859,544). Chris Ry8der co-owns (with Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm &
Bettor’s Wish Partners) and trains.
“He was just so great, so easy to drive,”
Dunn said. “I can’t wait for next week.”
The on-the-card, $40,000 elim saw Aflame
Hanover (Callahan, $6) finish what he started.
From post position No. 3, he never had an
issue (:27.4, 56.3, 1:24, 1:52),
whipping pocketed pole-sitter U S Captain (Bartlett) by a
length-and-a-half. Waterway (Joe Bongiorno), paired with the runner-up as the
17-10 wagering choice, was a closing third, while 37-1 rank outsider Reigning
Deo (George Brennan) was a ground-saving fourth to advance.
Buddy Hill (Eric Goodell) and Air Force
Hanover (Stratton) were fifth and last, respectively.
For second choice Aflame Hanover, a
Russell Hanover gelding co-owned by (trainer) Linda and Tony Schadel, it was
his fourth (consecutive) win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $17.60,
with neither triple nor superfecta wagering offered.
“He was super,” Callahan said. “He did
everything I asked. His hopple hanger broke, but that didn’t bother him.”
Aflame Hanover traversed the Keystone
State exclusively, only leaving (before Saturday) to finish fifth and fourth,
respectively, in the elim and final of Mohawk’s North America Cup.
Saturday’s pair of $46,000 Open Handicaps
were won by…
--Pace, None Bettor A (Bartlett, $2.30) in
1:50.4;
--Trot, Will Take Charge (Stratton, $8.70)
in 1:54.4.
Undeservedly reduced to sidebar status
were…
--American History (Bongiorno, $5.60), who
matched the all-age track record (1:50) in winning the $37,000 4-Year-Old Open
Handicap after teletimer-torturing intervals of :26.2, :53.1 and 1:20.2;
--Double-millionaire
Bit of A Legend N (Stratton, $4.60), who grinded out a 50th career
win (in his 150th life start), winning the $30,000, 11th-race
pace (1:52.4).
Open draws
for next Saturday’s four-pack of stakes--$$500,000 Yonkers Trot No, 65,
Messenger, $124,334 Hudson Filly Trot and $122,224 Lady Maud Pace—take place
Monday afternoon (Aug. 26th).
