On Tuesday afternoon (March 31), Yonkers Raceway offered its richest race of the 2015 season to date, the $62,200 final of the Sagamore Hill for three and four-year-old male pacers. The newly-purchased Rediscovery – who was driven by George Brennan and returned $6.70 to win – notched the victory off a textbook pocket trip.
In the early going, Rediscovery yielded to the 6-5 post-time choice, Bettorever (driven by Jason Bartlett), who gained the lead before the 28-second opening quarter-mile panel flashed to life. Rediscovery, who was sent off as the second choice, then locked up the box, leaving Vance Bayama (Mark MacDonald) hung out.
After a :57.2 intermission, and using ‘Vance’ as a parked-out pick, Bettorever found a 1:25.4 three-quarters. It was Vance Bayama’s entrymate, YS Lotus (Dan Dube), who went wide down the backside as Bettorever owned a length-and-a-half lead into the lane.
Meanwhile, Rediscovery had his sights set on the passing lane, where he edged away late. The final margin was one and a quarter lengths and the winning time was 1:54. Bettorever easily held second, with JK Patriot (Tim Tetrick) third. YS Lotus and Roger Mach Em (Brian Sears) completed the ‘cashers,’ while Fort Knox (Eric Carlson), Khan Blue Chip (Scott Zeron) and Vance Bayama rounded out the order of finish.
“I had to close the hole,” Brennan said. “First time I’ve driven him and no way I wanted to get away third. He’s handy and has a good turn of foot. He was a good buy.”
The “good buy” is a four-year-old son of Tell All now co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Phillip Collura, who is two-for-seven this season. The exacta paid $11.80, with the triple returning $76. Rediscovery, racing for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. in the three series prelims, had a win and a pair of seconds.
A $25,000 series consolation was won by Ideal Willie (MacDonald, $16.80 [part of entry]) in a life-best 1:54.
Series action continues Friday night with the third round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker (two, five-horse, $40,000 divisions), while Saturday offers the third round of George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series (30 entrants in four, $50,000 divisions).
(With files from Yonkers)