Round two of Yonkers Raceway's George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series went postward Saturday night, with five divisions – each carrying a purse of $50,000 - going postward.
The camera could not divide the odds-on favourite, Rockincam (Eric Goodell), and Classic Rock Nroll (Brian Sears), in 1:51.4. The latter edged from the pocket and dead heated the former one night after Royal Cee Cee N and Warrawee Koine couldn't be separated in their division of the Matchmaker. Meant To Be Me (Jordan Stratton) was third.
For season-debuting Rockincam, a six-year-old son of Cambest owned by Steven Farrell and trained by Nifty Norman, his career resume now includes 23 wins in 51 starts.
For Classic Rock Nroll, a six-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding trained by Tony O'Sullivan for owner Frank Bellino, it was his first win in two seasonal starts.
The public couldn't get enough of odds-on favourite Second Wind N (Tim Tetrick), but he couldn't get out of his own way after making the lead past the :28.2 quarter-mile. That left second choice, Electrofire (Sears, $11), leading and pole-sitting Forever Just (Jeff Gregory) chasing through remaining splits of :57.4, 1:26 and 1:53.2. Electrofire held sway, winning by three-quarters of a length. Flipper J (Jason Bartlett) was third. Second Wind N recovered to race first-up, but faded and finished last among the seven.
Electrofire, a six-year-old son of Electric Stena co-owned by Ross Warriner and Dave Miller and trained by Andrew Harris, is now 3-for-9 this season.
As he did in the opening round, prohibitive favourite Something For Doc (Yannick Gingras, $2.50) toyed with his foes. Leaving from post four, he led through fractions of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:24.3 en route to winning in 1:51.4. The margin was a handy couple of lengths. Listowel (Bartlett) skimmed the cones to grab second at 29-1, picking off tiring pocket-sitter Our Cullenscrown N (Tetrick). E Z Noah (Sears) was fourth.
Something For Doc, a five-year-old Western Hanover gelding trained by Burke for co-owners himself (as Burke Racing), Weaver Bruscemi and Strollin Stables, has five wins in seven seasonal starts.
Second choice Annieswesterncard (Gingras) had to wait his turn before making the lead (:27-second opening quarter) from post seven, found a :55.2 intermission, then saw Bet On The Law (Goodell) challenge through the 1:23.4 three-quarters. Bet on the Law eventually broke, and Annieswesterncard was safe, three-quarter length winner in 1:51.3. That mile makes him the leader in the clubhouse for fastest local mile of the season. Second went to Shoobees Place (George Brennan), who, sitting a three-hole, went by Dancin Yankee (Bartlett). Versado (Sears), the 9-5 choice, wound up fourth after a tough eight-hole excursion.
Annieswesterncard, a seven-year-old Western Hanover gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 and Panhellenic Stables, has won four of his seven seasonal starts (three consecutive).
If you accept the premise that harness horses can wear gloves, then the 3-5 favourite, Foiled Again (Gingras), and Razzle Dazzle (Sears) dropped them.
After the latter whipped the former a week ago, they hooked up here. Foiled Again, looped early by Sapphire City (Brent Holland), took over before a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. Razzle Dazzle, after brief tuck fifth from his eight-hole, was on the move again. He and Foiled Again matched wits passing a :54.4 half and 1:23.1 three-quarters, with Razzle Dazzle eventually taking over. However, a second move by 20-1 Sapphire City vaulted him to the lead turning for home. Then came the closers.
Code Word (Brennan) and Casimir Jitterbug (Goodell) went by everyone, with fourth choice Casimir Jitterbug ($26) winning by a head in 1:52.2. Foiled Again did re-rally to finish third, with Yo Cheyenne Rocky (Dan Dube) fourth. Razzle Dazzle faded to seventh.
Casimir Jitterbug, a six-year-old Sir Luck gelding trained by O'Sullivan for owner Bellino, has won four of his seven '13 tries.
(Yonkers Raceway)