Outsider JJ Flynn flew by his competition to pull an upset in the first of six $50,000 divisions for the second round of the George Morton Levy Series at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday, March 23.
Here’s the succinct story, not necessarily in chronological order:
First division—A week after Western Fame traversed the fastest local mile of the season, he was 15-cents-on-the-dollar to do it again.
After Western Fame led through early fractions of :27.1 and :56.2, JJ Flynn moved. He hooked Western Fame by the 1:24 three-quarters, fighting him off from there.
The final margin was three-quarters of a length in a sharp 1:51.3. Duplicated N was a pocket third, with Ballerat Boomerang and Lyons Steel also making appearance fees.
For fourth-choice JJ Flynn, a six-year-old Western Ideal gelding co-owned by (trainer) Josh Green, Richard Lombardo and Charles Cochran III, he’s now six-for-eight this season (one-for-two in series). George Brennan drove the $43.00. The exacta paid $119.50, the triple returned $191 and the superfecta paid $362.50.
Second division—Odds-on Rodeo Rock—from post position five—downed loose-leader Gokudo Hanover to prevail first over by a head in 1:52.1. The 13-1 latter had open lengths through intervals of :26.4, :56.1 and 1:24.
Rock The Nite, More The Better N and Major Crocker A picked off the remainder, while an amiss Bit Of A Legend N lost tough from a pole-sitting pocket and finished sixth.
For Rodeo Rock, a six-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding owned by Royal Wire Products and trained by Robert Cleary, it was his third win in as many seasonal starts (two-for-two in series). Andrew McCarthy drove the $3.50 winner. The exacta paid $22.60, the triple returned $201 and the superfecta paid $459.50.
“I was hoping Scotty (Zeron, with More The Better N) would pull from third, but he was happy where he was and just had to go on with it,” McCarthy said. “It was a long way (from fifth) in the wind, but he was actually more comfortable tonight than in last week’s race.”
Fourth division—After wiring his opening-leg rivals at 9-1, favoured Ideal Jimmy had more acquaintances at the windows.
From post three, Ideal Jimmy led through splits of :28, :57.4 and 1:26 and went the distance to win by three-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:53.3. Polester Lochton Luck A, as a 29-1 outsider, and three-hole sitting Bellows Binge finished the tickets, while Always at My Place and Bettor Memories settled for the remainder.
For Ideal Jimmy, a six-year-old homebred Western Ideal gelding owned by D R Van Witzenberg and trained by Erv Miller, it was his fifth win in eight tries this season (two-for-two in series). Brent Holland drove the $4.10 winner. The exacta paid $49, the triple returned $136 and the superfecta paid $1,379.
“I thought he should have been the favourite last week,” Holland said “He’s very handy and I’m not surprised he’s stepped up in this series.”
Third division—Anythingforlove A saw his quest for the series two-fer implode when pole-sitting Endeavor pulled from third and rolled right past.
The former led through splits of :27.3 and :57.1, but backpedaled buy the 1:25 three-quarters. Endeavor, meanwhile, opened a pair of lengths in and out of the final turn, eventually winning by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:52.4.
Control Tower was a loose-second-up second, with a trapped Dr J Hanover, Nocturnal Bluechip and the fading 11-10 fave Anythingforlove A settling for the minors.
For second choice Endeavor, a six-year-old American Ideal gelding co-owned by (trainer) Jeff Cullipher and Pollack Racing, it was his first win in a pair of seasonal/series starts. Tim Tetrick drove the $4.90 winner. The exacta paid $24.40, the triple returned $149.50 and the superfecta paid $530.
Fifth division—The Downtown Bus took the always-popular fourth-over route to redemption, snapping 11-10 choice Beckhams Z Tam by a head in 1:53.1.
The closers, from post five and three respectively, had numbers to chase after Sams A Champ A set a contested pace of :26.1, :55.3 and 1:23.4 while getting stung and softened by The Wall from first over.
Rodeo Romeo was an outkicked third, with The Wall and Whittaker N grabbing the smaller envelopes.
For fifth-choice The Downtown Bus, a four-year-old Mach Three gelding co-owned by (trainer) Jeff Gillis and Ellen Ott, he’s now one-for-two this season and in the series. Scott Zeron drove the $17.20 winner. The exacta paid $90.50, the triple returned $196.50 and the superfecta paid $540.
Sixth division—A two-speed number, where second choice Somewhere In L A edged past just-over-even-money Imarocnrollegend N in 1:53.1.
Pocketed from post No. 4, Somewhere In L A earned his 40th win, the margin three-quarters of a length. Don Domingo N was a ground-saving third, with Im Some Graduate and Mar Nien A earning the remainder of available coinage.
For Somewhere In L A, an eight-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding co-owned by D’Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, T L P & Gandolfo Stables and trained by Richard Banca, it was his second win in five efforts this season (one-for-two in series). Jason Bartlett drove the $6.10 winner. The exacta paid $14.60, the triple returned $126.50 and the superfecta paid $572.
Saturday night’s $44,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by 31-1 rank outsider New Heaven in a season’s-best 1:55.3. Jordan Stratton drove the $64.00 winner.
(with files from Yonkers Raceway)