BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Thursday, October 3,
2019—Yonkers Raceway’s race secretary Bob Miecuna has finalized the eight-horse
field for the $250,000 Dan Rooney Invitational Pace.
The octet, part of the undercard for
Saturday afternoon’s (Oct. 12th) International Trot card, is
(alphabetically)…
American History (age 4) —fresh off
matching Yonkers’ all-age track record (1:49.3) this past Saturday night (Sept.
28th) after winning Harrington’ Quillen Memorial in identical time
in previous start.
Courtly Choice (4) – wins in the Canadian Pacing Derby (Mohawk) and Commodore Barry Invitational (Harrah’s Philly). At 3, won the Meadowlands Pace, Little Brown Jug (Delaware, OH) and Empire Breeders’ Classic (Tioga).
Jimmy Freight (4) -- won last week’s
Dayton Pacing Derby as well as Mohawk’s Gold Cup. At 3, won the final of
Ontario Sire Stakes Gold (Mohawk) and elim of Yonkers’ Messenger Stakes before
second in final.
McWicked (8) – Really? $4.6 million in
career earnings doesn’t need much in the way of introduction, but…how about
2018’s Harness Horse of the Year after wins in TVG (Meadowlands), Breeders
Crown (Pocono), Dan Rooney (here), Allerage (Red Mile), Canadian Pacing Derby
(Mohawk), Haughton Memorial (Meadowlands) and Ben Franklin (Pocono)?
This season’s wins include the Ewart
Memorial (Scioto), Gerrity Memorial (Saratoga) and Roll With Joe (Tioga).
None Bettor A (6) – his first North
American season includes win in the Battle of Lake Erie and final of Great
Northeast (Pocono), plus pair of Open Handicaps here.
Theartofconfusion A (9) – set the local
all-age track record (1:49.3) while working his way up through the conditioned
ranks. Has raced exclusively here since August of 2017.
This is the Plan (4) – wins in the Hoosier
Park Pacing Derby, Prix D’Ete (Hippodrome Three Rivers), Ben Franklin (Pocono)
Well-traveled number is making Yonkers his 16th career venue.
Western Fame (6) – early-season standout
here, winning four legs and final of George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.
Post time for the International Trot
matinee card is 1 PM. Post positions for the Rooney shall be drawn Monday
afternoon (Oct. 7th).
