After two nights of being confined to quarters by Mother Nature, Yonkers Raceway returned Saturday, with Dave Aint Here (Jim Pantaleano) reprising his starring role
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Corky Baran (Brent Holland), as the 13-10 choice, worked around Southwind Tabor (Greg Merton), assuming the control panel right at the :27.1 opening quarter-mile.
While Southwind Tabor thought about pulling pocket, Corky Baran continued through a :56.2 intermission. Moving toward the 1:25.1 three-quarters, Palmers Z Tam (Pat Lachance) found himself right up in the leader's grill.
"Corky" would not that one go, but the damage was done.
Dave Aint Here, second-up from post position No. 5, rolled wide and rolled by, getting the jump on the third-over Dontgetbyme (Jordan Stratton) and winning by a neck in 1:53.4. "Dave's" fourth Open Handicap victory in his last five tries matched his season's-best effort. Southwind Tabor, Palmers Z Tam and Corky Baran completed the cashers.
For Dave Aint Here, a nine-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding owned and trained by Ettore Annunziata, he paid $16.80 (fourth choice) for his fifth win in nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $87, the triple returned $286 and the superfecta paid $5,066.
Saturday's program also contained the second round of the Hopeful Pacing Series for three-year-old colts and geldings. Five $10,000 divisions went to the well, with 3-10 miniscule mutuel Wayne The Lefty (Stratton) making his local debut in convincing style...as in more than two seconds faster than the next-fastest division.
"Wayne" ($2.60) grabbed the lead from Pan Grad (Jason Bartlett) before the quarter, then put up ambitious fractions over the moist oval. He held sway by a half-length in a snappy 1:54.1. Tony Alagna trained the son of Allamerican Ingot for the Indiana contingent of Trent Stohler Stable, Kenneth Stohler, TKO Racing and Thomas Hudson.
Saturday's other round two winners were:
- Fox Valley Valkari, g (by Sportsmaster); owner Lon Frocione/trainer Brett Bittle/driver Jeff Gregory; 1:57/$10.60;
- Raging Cam (by Jodys Cam); owner Orville Rursch/trainer Kevin Johnson/driver Stephane Bouchard; 1:57.2/$6.70;
- Crunch Time, g (by Bettors Delight); co-owners Ralph Mailman and Springhill Trading/trainer Ed Hart/driver Bouchard; 1:58.3/2.70;
- Market Force, g (by Rocknroll Hanover); owner Timothy Tobias Stable/trainer Stacy Chiodo/driver Greg Merton; 1:56.4/$23.
While we're on the subject of series, a reminder that nominations for both the George Morton Levy Memorial and the Blue Chip Matchmaker close this Monday, March 1. For more information, please contact the race office at (914) 457-2627.
(Yonkers Raceway)