Dragon Said and Retour Au Jeu picked up lifetime marks in winning their respective $15,000 splits in the first leg of the M Life Rewards Gents Pacing Series on Wednesday night (March 3) at Yonkers Raceway.
Driven by Joe Bongiorno in the final division, Dragon Said moved out of the pocket to take the lead away from Sailboat Hanover going to the :28.3 opening quarter. Dragon Said, sent as the 8-5 second choice, continued on the engine to the half in :58 and the three-quarters in 1:26.1, then drew off powerfully in the final quarter, widening to prevail by seven lengths in 1:53.1. Sailboat Hanover wound up second, and favoured My Pal Joe had to settle for third after stalling out from first-up on the last turn.
Trained by Jenn Bongiorno for owner Robert Devine, Dragon Said is a four-year-old Well Said gelding. This was his fifth win, and he has now earned $38,732. Dragon Said paid $5.50 to win. The exacta was worth $20.00, and trifecta returned $28.00.
Retour Au Jeu raced in the second section, and he watched from fourth as Odds On Brexit, Rolling With Sam and Got The Mojo all had a turn on the front through a snappy :27 opening quarter. Once the dust settled, driver Jordan Stratton guided Retour Au Jeu to the outside, and he was able to brush to the point before the :56.1 half. Retour Au Jeu then successfully withstood a first-over try from Odds On Brexit to the 1:24.2 three-quarters before he paced away to a two-and-a-half length verdict in 1:53.4. Rolling With Sam was up for second, and Trevors Ace got third at 64-1.
Dennis Laterza trains Retour Au Jeu, a four-year-old Hes Watching gelding, for owner Latz A Luck Stable. Retour Au Jeu now has a record of 8-5-6 from 24 starts, and he has banked $48,768. Retour Au Jeu, the 3-2 favorite, returned $5.00 to win. The exacta returned $19.80, and the trifecta kicked back $259.50.
Even-money second choice Scootnroll turned a second-over trip into a 1:56.1 win in the first flight. He beat Panther Time, who led through panels of :28.2, :58.4, and 1:27.4, by a length and a half, and Gonnahaveonemore saved third after a pocket trip.
A four-year-old gelded son of Roll With Joe, Scootnroll is trained by Todd Buter for owners Rick and Geoff Howles. Scootnroll is now an 11-time winner from 21 trips behind the gate, and he has pocketed $64,264. Tyler Buter drove the $4.20 winner. The exacta returned $10.60, and the trifecta was good for $18.00.
Rounding out Wednesday night's winners in the M Life Gents Pacing Series was Lous Sweetrevenge. After racing in fourth through stations of :27.1, :56.2, and 1:24.2, Brennan had Lous Sweetrevenge off the cones before three-quarters. Lous Sweetrevenge gained into third on the last turn, rallied past tiring leader Cigar Smoking Tony in the stretch, and hit the line a length and three-quarters to the good in 1:54. Diamondbeach advanced from last to second in the back-half of the mile, and Cigar Smoking Tony wound up third.
Lous Sweetrevenge is a four-year-old Sweet Lou gelding trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Phil Collura, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Lous Sweetrevenge posted his sixth win in his 36th effort, and he now shows earnings of $98,403. Lous Sweetrevenge, who returned $5.30 to win as the 8-5 second choice, headed a $21.80 exacta and a $51.00 trifecta. George Brennan drove the winner.
The M Life Gents Pacing Series continues with preliminary round action the next two Wednesdays (March 10 and 17). The final is slated for March 24.
(Yonkers Raceway)