BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Tuesday, March 3, 2020—Those of a certain demographic might remember the name
‘Whelan’ doing very good things at metropolitan New York-area harness tracks.
The ‘Whelan’ in question
is Walter, and back in 1987, Walter Whelan teamed with then 4-year-old Armbro
Emerson to take down both the Breeders Crown at Roosevelt Raceway and Yonkers
Raceway’s William Haughton Memorial. Those and other stakes wins highlighted a
$1.4 million racing resume (’87 Pacer of the Year) which, along with a prolific
stallion career, earned ‘Emerson’ a 2006 induction into the Canadian Horse
Racing Hall of Fame.
All of the above
is a roundabout way of saying that Walter Whelan, the father/trainer, and Michael
Whelan, the son/driver, are invading Yonkers Tuesday night (March 3rd),
bringing with them Ohare Hanover for the opening round of the M Life Rewards
Gents Pacing Series.
The event (nee the
Sagamore Hill) is open to 3- and 4-year-old lads who are/were non-winners of
four races and/or $50,000 through this past Dec. 1st.
Welcome Ohare
Hanover, a 4-year-old Russell Hanover gelding who drew position No. 6 in the
first, $20,000 division…conveniently carded as the first of a dozen races
(first post 7:05 PM).
The $8,000 Goshen
(NY) yearling purchase left a good impression up north, breaking his maiden in
his 16th career start at Mohawk (1:55) late last month while taking
a whole lot of back-half air.
For the
42-year-old escort, who is set to make his local driving debut, there’s some
promise with his charge.
“The last few
starts, it’s clicked for (Ohare Hanover),” Mike Whelan said. “I mean, he was
never bad, just mentally immature.
“We tried him in
the Snowshoe Series (Mohawk) in January, but he drew badly both times and the
races had no pace.
Undaunted, father,
son and the rest of the Whelans (“It’s a family operation, to be sure,” Mike
Whelan said) had scoped out a trip stateside.
“(Ohare Hanover)
had no problem getting around the half (-mile track) at Flamboro. He’s
quick-gaited and we think the small ovals may suit him better, though we
weren’t disappointed how he raced in Toronto.”
Unfortunately
for Team Whelan, their four-legged friend has a big bully right next door.
Semi Tough (Matt
Kakaley, post 7) makes his 2020 purse debut off a $205,000 season in ’19, which
ended with handy overnights wins (at odds of 1-10 and 1-20) here. The open
stakes-placed 4-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding has earned just under a
half-million-dollars.
“Ideally, I would
have preferred to draw better, have the option to sit with him and hopefully
make a few dollars, but this is good test for him,” Mike Whelan said.
Tuesday’s
other ‘Gent’ divisions are races 3,4 and 5. The series offer three preliminary
legs leading to a $50,000 (added) finale Tuesday night, March 24th.
