One More Laugh (Tim Tetrick) out-sprinted Hes Gorgeous (Jason Bartlett) Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $250,000 Art Rooney Pace in 1:53.3

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The four-horse, non-wagering event for three-year-olds (three colts and one gelding) saw pole-sitting Hes Gorgeous meander through fractions of :29 and :58.3. One More Laugh, starting outside his rivals, negated the draw by falling into an early pocket.

With Hes Gorgeous picking up the pace, We Will See (Jim Morrill Jr.) was the first to move down the backside. One More Laugh than was given his marching orders, pulling the picket before the 1:26.3 three-quarters.

Hes Gorgeous maintained the advantage turning for home, but could not stall the pocket-sitter. One More Laugh prevailed by three-quarters of a length, with We Will See and Tobago Cays (Cat Manzi) completing the order. The foursome was separated by just a length at the wire.

"I like that he's a horse that likes to win," co-owner (with Mathias Meinzinger and Jerry Silva) and trainer Ray Schnittker said. "They weren't going anything up front, but he's as game as anyone."

For One More Laugh, a McArdle gelding, it was his second win in three seasonal starts and 11th victory in 15 lifetime efforts.

The $150,000 Lismore, companion event to the Rooney, attracted four fillies and was also held before the parimutuel festivities. Its De Lovely (Jeff Gregory) won both the draw and the race, ducking inside to defeat Dancinwiththestarz (Morrill Jr.) by a neck in 1:55.

A and Gs Princess (Yannick Gingras) broke while trying to out-leave his three inside rivals. That left Its De Lovely and Dancinwithethestarz playing leapfrog on the lead. The latter showed the way through intervals of :27.4, :57 and 1:26.3.

Dancinwiththestarz opened to a length-and-a-quarter turning for home, but Its De Lovely out-gamed that one late. 'Princess' recovered from the early mis-step and finished third, beaten a half-length, with Aries Angel (Brandon Simpson) fourth.

For Its De Lovely, a daughter of Four Starzzz Shark co-owned by her escort and Alison Giorgianni and trained by Jim Giorgianni, it was her third win in six '10 tries (five-for-16 lifetime).

"We've always liked her," Gregory said. "She really stepped up when she finished second to Dancinwinththestarz [in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes race at The Meadows], and felt this would be a good race for her.

"Drawing inside is always good here, and I was more than happy to let Jimmy cut the mile. When I asked, she did the rest."

Yonkers' Inaugeral Summer Festival A Hit

Even though summer is nine days away, no one who enjoyed Yonkers Raceway's inaugural Summer Festival Saturday night seemed to care.

The track apron was jammed with children--and those reliving childhood--for a night of free events, activities, demonstrations and giveaways.

The area was adorned with a carousel, slide ride, arcade games, a Beach Boys tribute band and Empire City's own "talking horse" who's looking for a name (see www.yonkersraceway.com for details). Guests enjoyed popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones and candy apples and all received a Yonkers Raceway keychain.

"We're very excited about the turnout," general manager Bob Galterio said. "Everyone had a great time, our staff was terrific and we were able to showcase our racing to a whole new audience."

Not for nothing, but those "children" on the slide ride looked suspiciously like (left to right) Jordan Stratton, Stephane Bouchard and Jason Bartlett.

(Yonkers Raceway)