Yonkers Raceway Saturday night offered penultimate preliminary round competition in its George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series competition
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A quintet of $50,000 events comprised the fourth round, with many of the usual names--save for the AWOL Atochia--adorning the marquee.
Three-time local driving champion Luc Ouellette, back here for the first time in nine years, made money in this business trip. Leaving from post position No. 4, he and odds-on Strand Hanover ($3.90) two-moved to a handy, length and a half victory in 1:52 (equal halves of :56 seconds). Power Of Tara N (George Brennan) skimmed the cones for second, with Dreamlands Art (Yannick Gingras) a pocket third.
For Strand Hanover, a six-year-old son of Modern Art trained by Tony Alagna for co-owners Uncirculated Stable of Burlington, Ont. and Brenda Selwyn Waxman of Dundas, Ont., it was his fourth win (second in series) in 11 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $33.80, with the triple returning $167.
Fitzs Z Tam (Brian Sears, $14), a winner deep along the cones a week ago, did his damage from second over. He tracked Art Two D Two (Brennan), then went past that one and tiring favourite River Shark (Mark MacDonald) in 1:52.1. Nob Hill High (Jordan Stratton), after sitting in early, closed for second, with River Shark third.
For Fitzs Z Tam, a five-year-old Cole Muffler gelding trained by Tyler Raymer for co-owners Martin Scharf and Silva Stable, it was his third win in nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $36, with the triple returning $99.
Odds-on Blatantly Good (Brennan, $2.20) retook from Dancin Yankee (Bartlett), then held that one at bay by a half-length (1:52) in a what turned into a match race. Roadside Delight (Pat Lachance) was third, beaten four and three-quarter lengths.
For Blatantly Good, an eight-year-old son of Albert Albert owned by Bamond Racing and trained by PJ Fraley, it was his third win (first series win) in 11 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $8.50, with the triple returning $53.
Defending series champ Real Nice (Bartlett, $2.60) is the only four-for-four player in this series after a workman-like 1:51.4 effort. Leaving from post No. 4, he was three-wide early before fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:24.3. He whipped a solid, first up Valentino (Cat Manzi) by a length and three quarters, with Clear Vision (Gingras) third.
For Real Nice, a millionaire seven-year-old Real Artist gelding co-owned by Beverly and Gary Paganelli and Anthony Scussel and trained by Rich Banca, it was his fourth win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $29, the triple returned $112.50 and the superfecta (Rock To Glory [Sears]) paid $411.
Reigning Older Pacing Horse of the Year Foiled Again (Gingras, $2.10) fooled no one in evening's final series sojourn. In play from post No. 4, he controlled the combatants through intervals of :28, :56.2, 1:24.2 and 1:52. Foreign Officer (Stratton) chased from the pocket, beaten a non-threatening length-and-three-quarters. Art Z (Brett Miller) tried his luck first-up from third, and wound up third.
For Foiled Again, a thrice-millionaire--and twice series champ--eight-year-old Dragon Again gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables, it was his third (series) win in four '12 tries. The exacta paid $7.80, with the triple returning $17.60.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)