“He stopped surprising me a long time ago,” driver Yannick Gingras said before Foiled Again’s 200th career start.
There would be no surprises Saturday night, as Foiled Again’s 78th lifetime victory was among his simplest in round two of Yonkers Raceway’s George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.
Leaving from post position No. 4 in the last of four $50,000 divisions, Foiled Again, leading a 1-20 Ron Burke-trained troika, had nothing more than a soggy stroll.
After fractions of :28.1, :57, 1:25.3 and 1:53.4, Foiled Again found himself getting to the finish line three and a aquarter lengths before his competition. In this case, the closest competition was entrymate Aracache Hanover (Dan Dube), with Texican N (Brian Sears) third.
For Foiled Again, a 10-year-old Dragon Again gelding, the $25,000 public workout payday increased his lifetime loot to $6,080,968 (U.S.). Burke co-owns (as Burke Racing) with Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables. He returned the legal-minimum $2.10, with the exacta (Texican N second for this wager) paying $7.70.
The win pool of $84,083 -- of which $56,387 was wagered on the 'Foiled' faction -- is believed to be the largest since the filly See You At Peelers whipped the boys in the Art Rooney Pace a couple of seasons ago.
Foiled Again was just one of four repeat winners as the Levy series rolled on. It had to be contagious...even the Philadelphia 76ers won.
Mach It So (Tim Tetrick) has become the bettor’s best friend. After winning at 8-1 in the opening leg, he snapped 9-10 choice Apprentice Hanover (Jody Jamieson) on the money in the evening’s fourth division to the tune of 20-1.
Leaving from post No. 6, Mach It So was well back early as Dancin Yankee (Ron Pierce) made the lead around Apprentice Hanover. After a :27-second opening quarter-mile, Sweet Lou (Gingras), half of the 9-10 second choice (not a misprint as Apprentice Hanover was the wagering favourite), came to visit. However, the leader was in no mood for company, parking 'Lou' past a :55-second intermission.
Down the backside, Sweet Lou’s barn buddy Easy Again (George Brennan) made a bold move, wide from fifth. However, going the 1:23.1 three-quarters, the leader stood his ground. Entering the lane, after Sweet Lou gave up the ghost, Apprentice Hanover adroitly slipped out of the pocket.
He looked every bit the winner before the blur of Mach It So -- fifth turning for home -- nailed him by a head in 1:52.4. Third went to Easy Again.
Mach It So, a four-year-old Mach Three gelding owned by Bamond Racing and trained by P J Fraley, returned $42.80 (fourth choice) for his second win in two series/season starts. The exacta paid $116.50, with the triple returning $256.
“He’s been under the radar, but he’s been very sharp,” said Tetrick. “There was a lot of action up front, and that’s what gave him a shot.”
The evening’s other Levy events were won by:
- Bettors Edge, g, 5 (by Bettors Delight); co-owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 Stable/driver Gingras; 1:53.4/$2.60 (POE);
- Itrustyou, g, 6 (by Third Straight); co-owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, RTC Stables/driver Gingras; 1:55/$2.10 (POE).
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)