Yonkers Raceway's premier event for Free-For-Allers--the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series--began its six-week odyssey on a brisk Saturday night with a half-dozen $50,000 divisions
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Nearly everyone came to play, with 43 of the 52 nominees peddling their wares.
Millionaire Blueridge Western ($8.60) earned first-dance honours, taking advantage of a slick Dave Palone drive to last in 1:53.3. Leaving outside his six rivals, "Blueridge" ducked in fourth. He then went up and over Kentucky Rebel (Mike Cole) down the backside, sprinting to enough daylight before tepid 5-2 favourite Atochia (Jason Bartlett) showed up late.
Blueridge Western won by a diminishing neck, with Runover Feeling (Dan Dube) a best-of-the rest third. Kevin McDermott trained the five-year-old Allamerican Ingot gelding--now five-for-11 this season--for owner Francis Azur. The exacta paid $31, with the triple returning $123.50.
The second Levy legion saw pole-sitting favourite Clear Vision (Cat Manzi, $3.90) retake from Lislea Miles (Brent Holland), then hold both that one and King Cat Anvil N (Jordan Stratton) at bay in 1:54.2. Chasin Racin (Corey Callahan) wedged into a seat, came first-up and offered nothing.
Meanwhile Clear Vision, co-owned by David McDuffee and John Fielding and trained by Richard Norman, went on to whip Lislea Miles by a neck. The winner, a four-year-old Western Hanover gelding, is now one-for-two this season. The exacta paid $20.40, with the triple returning $54.
Poker Hat (Brett Miller, $7.60) was sharp in the third event, taking a lot a backside air before grinding past Badlands Nitro (Callahan) by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.4, a tick off the fastest local mile of the season. Legal Litigator (Dube) was third, with 17-10 choice Jeremys Successor (Tyler Buter) fourth.
Poker Hat, a six-year-old Cams Card Shark gelding trained by James Borke for co-owners Robert Lombardo and Howard Taylor, is now four-for-11 this season. The exacta paid $44.40, with the triple returning $295.
Saturday's fourth Levy grouping saw horse-for-the-course Wholly Louy (Cat Manzi, $5.10) snap pace-setting Mr Wiggles (Callahan) from second-over. Real Nice (Stephane Bouchard) was third. "Louy," owned by Bob Hamather and trained by Casie Coleman, won by three-quarters of a length, his second victory in five '10 tries. The exacta paid $11.40, with the triple returning $87.50.
The defending series champ, Foiled Again (Bartlett), made his seasonal debut--at even-money--in the fifth flight. Sitting pocketed to River Shark (Dube), he was outgamed by a first-up Western Ace (Callahan, $9.50) in 1:53. Western Ace, co-owned by trainer George Teague and Kovach Stables, won the battle of millionaires by a half-length. Winbak Fox (Jeff Gregory) was third; schnozzed for second.
Western Ace, a seven-year-old Western Ideal gelding, won his third race in nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $30.20, with the triple returning $124.
Last, but not least, Southwind Lynx (Callahan), winner of the million-dollar '07 Art Rooney Pace at Yonkers, was first-over in picking off pocket-sitting, 8-5 choice Corky Baran (Dube) by a head in 1:53.4. Handsome Harry (Bartlett) cut relatively cheap early fractions but faded to third. The millionaire (common theme) "Lynx" gave trainer Teague--who shares ownership with K&R Racing--his second series win from five starters.
Southwind Lynx, a six-year-old son of Real Artist, returned $10.80 for his third win in five seasonal efforts. The exacta paid $40.80, with the triple returning $123.50.
"I can make the 3 1/2-trip for these horses all the time," Callahan said of his first Westchester work night. "I've driven Western Ace before and that's his game. He can sit out there for a long time and go when he has to.
"I'd never been behind Southwind Lynx before tonight, but I talked to Tim [Tetrick] about him, and he said he'd fly off another helmet. So, I tried to work out a second-over trip, but no one would come out in front of me.
"Off the last turn, I figured I had Jason [Bartlett] beat, and he had enough to hold off [Corky Baran]. I was really pleased with all the ones I drove, except Chasin Racin. I don't what happened to him, but I plan on showing up again next Saturday...if George [Teague] wants me."
Saturday's card also included Round 2 of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series for three- and four-year-old colts and geldings
The four $12,500 divisions were won by:
- Giddy Up Delight, g, 4 (by Bettors Delight); owner David Shea/trainer Mark Ford/driver Bartlett; 1:55.2/$2.50;
- Mr Rockford, g, 4 (by Dragon Again); owner Dean Davis/trainer Ford/driver Dube; 1:55.4/$4.90;
- Eragon, g, 4 (by Dragon Again); owner-trainer Peter Kleinhans/driver Greg Grismore; 1:55.3/$6.40;
- Woodstock Hanover, g, 4 (by Bettors Delight); co-owners Ken Tucci and Glenn Ellis/trainer Aaron Lambert/driver Bouchard; 1:56.2/$2.50.
(Yonkers Raceway)