BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, November 2, 2019—A pocketed Havefaithinme N (Jason Bartlett, $10)
slipped up the inside, picking off 2-5 favorite Rodeo Rock (Eric Goodell)
Saturday night (Nov. 2nd), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $35,000
Preferred Pace.
The feature, pared
down to a half-dozen after a pair of defections, saw Havefaithinme N—in one
notch to post position No. 3—make the first lead. He was then leapfrogged by
polester Rodeo Rock. The people’s preference then led through early intervals
of :27.1 and a flat 56 seconds.
Runrunjimmydunn N
(Jordan Stratton) tried it first-up from third, prompting through a :27.3 third
quarter (1:23.3).
Rodeo Rock did own
a length-and-a-half lead off the final turn, but drifted, leaving the back door
unguarded. Havefaithinme N was more than obliging, scooting through to whip the
fave by a length in 1:51.4.
Third went to
‘Jimmydunn,’ with Western Joe (Austin Siegelman) and Turbo Hill (Jim Marohn
Jr.) settling for the minors. Dancin’ Dragon (George Brennan) received lovely
parting gifts.
For second choice
Havefaithinme N, an 8-year-old millionaire Down Under Bettor’s Delight gelding
co-owned by Blindswitch and Good Friends Racing Stables, Gary Axelrod &
Santo Farina and trained by Jose Godinez, it was his ninth win in 27 seasonal
starts. The exacta paid $18.80, the triple returned $39.60 and the superfecta
paid $150.
