A week after a scorched-earth, life-best, down-the-road effort in 1:52, Western Beachboy won the finale from well off the pace and snapped favoured Declan Seelster at the wire Tuesday night (March 26), winning the $60,200 final of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series at Yonkers Raceway.
Away sixth from post position six, Western Beachboy saw his coupled entrant, Prologue, lead through early stations of :27 and :56.2. Prologue was noticeably off the cones by the intermission, causing 4-5 choice Declan Seelster to move wider during his hard challenge from fourth.
Leader and stalker were inseparable through a 1:23.4 third quarter, with Cheese Melt loosely pocketed and Yeahnah gapping from second-over.
While this scenario unfolded, Western Beachboy went three wide down the backside, getting within shouting distance off the final turn. Soon thereafter, Declan Seelster was about to win the battle—putting away Prologue—but lose the war as Western Beachboy tagged him by a short nose in 1:53.1.
On Accident angled out, then back in late to grab third, with Prologue and Cheese Melt rounding out the payees. The order was completed by Yeahnah, a breaking-early Sharp Action Money and a never-in-it/did not finish Better Than Spring.
For second-choice Western Beachboy, a four-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding co-owned (as Allard Racing) by (trainer) Rene Allard, Bruce Soulsby, Alan Weisenberg and Gilbert Short, it was his third win in nine starts this season, propelling his earnings to $61,300. George Brennan drove the $6.30 winner. The exacta paid $16.60, with the triple returning $83. Per New York State rules, superfecta wagering was not offered due to the presence of coupled entries.
“He was out a long way,” Brennan said. “It was a very good effort. He used to always be locked on the left line, but he’s become much easier to drive.”
A $30,000 series consolation was won by Trump That, driven by Yannick Gingras, in 1:54.3. He paid $2.50 to win.
The Teddy Roosevelt-approved assemblage was open to three- and four-year-olds gentlemen who are/were non-winners of four races and/or $40,000 through last Dec. 1.
(with files from Yonkers Raceway)