Vandiemen Bluechip, sent off at odds of 49-1, was a first-over, 1:54.2 winner of a $156,600 New York Sire Stakes clash for rookie pacing colts and geldings at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Tuesday (Aug. 22).
Driven by George Brennan, Vandiemen Bluechip sped out from post five and held the early lead, but yielded to Boston Rocks and driver Jason Bartlett before the :27 opening quarter. Boston Rocks gave way to sit in the pocket behind 1-9 favourite Huntingforchrome, who had Joe Bongiorno in the bike, beyond that marker.
Huntingforchrome, coming off back-to-back victories in the NYSS at Saratoga and Vernon and a tally against open company in the Kindergarten Series at the Meadowlands, kept control through middle-half fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.1. Brennan put Vandiemen Bluechip in motion first-over passing three-quarters and came with a quick brush that carried him into the lead on the rim on the final bend. Ameritric and driver Marcus Miller tracked the cover, which trapped Boston Rocks on the inside and shuffled him back to fourth behind the fading Huntingforchrome.
In the stretch, Vandiemen Bluechip had the jump on his pursuers, and although Boston Rocks was able to angle off the cones to get around Huntingforchrome and then dove back to the inside in pursuit of Vandiemen Bluechip, Vandiemen Bluechip was able to hold sway to the wire, prevailing by a neck. Boston Rocks had to settle for second, followed by Ameritric, Howlenthehills (Matt Kakaley) and Darius (Mark MacDonald).
That big upset by Vandiemen Blue Chip also was the catalyst that led to Tuesday night's Pick 5 wager not being hit. As a result, when live racing resumes Thursday (Aug. 24), there will be an $8,266.59 carryover and a $20,000 guaranteed pool in the sequence. The guarantee in the Pick 5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick 5, courtesy of TrackMaster, will be available. The Pick 5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20 per cent.
A trio of $20,000 New York Excelsior "A" Series races also took place. Bartlett won the two non-wagering divisions held prior to the start of the pari-mutuel program, tallying with Escape To America (by American Ideal and bred by owners John Darrah and Lawrence Keethe) in 1:56 for trainer Deborah Daguet and with Spectacular Plus (by Huntsville and bred by co-owner/trainer Gary Messenger and co-owner Kenneth Weckstein) in 1:56.1.
Pop It (by Huntsville and bred by Kathryn and M.K. Weed) captured the Excelsior "A" Series event on the betting card, prevailing in 1:55.3 for MacDonald, trainer Ray Schnittker and owners Schnittker Arnold, Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco and Ted Gewertz. Pop It returned $2.90 to win as the favourite and led an $8.70 exacta and a $69.50 trifecta.
This was the final regular season stop at MGM Yonkers Raceway on the New York Sire Stakes schedule, but the oval will host the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Day of Champions to honour the best two- and three-year-olds in the state on Saturday, Sept. 9. That blockbuster program also includes the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot and two six-figure invitationals. Post time for that special card is noon.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently racing on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with post time at 7 p.m. (EDT).
(Yonkers Raceway)