Yonkers Raceway's annual tribute to Teddy Roosevelt - the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series for three- and four-year-old colts and geldings - wrapped up Tuesday night at Yonkers Raceway, and at $67,200 it was the oval’s richest event of the season to date.
That fun factoid was good news for Pancetta (Brian Sears), who sat an antsy pocket, then rolled by One Through Ten (Dave Miller) en route to a 1:53.1 victory.
Involved early from post position three, Pancetta was able to avoid an early break of pole-resident Hope Blue Chip (Larry Stalbaum) and sequester in behind even-money favourite One Through Ten. That one, the only perfect (3-for-3) participant in the prelims, found a :28.2 quarter-mile and :57.3 intermission. May Day (Jason Bartlett) was a tight third, while Sly Ruler (Eric Goodell) tried it first-up.
One Through Ten dismissed that foe right around the 1:26 three-quarters, but Pancetta was all dressed up with someplace to go. He extricated himself from the pocket early to go after the leader. One Through Ten was a length to the good turning for home, but Pancetta negated that margin in a hurry. He took aim and took off, widening to 2-½ lengths (:26.4 individual final quarter) in a season's-best effort. Third went to May Day.
"Getting an inside draw helped, and sitting behind Dave's horse (One Through Ten) was the perfect trip," said Sears. "This horse has a tremendous turn of foot. He's been very good throughout the series, especially tonight."
For Pancetta, a four-year-old son of No Pan Intended co-owned by Richard Morita and David Yamada and trained by Brandon Todd, he returned $5.10 (second choice) for his third win in seven seasonal starts.
A $25,000 series consolation was won by A Bettor World and driver George Brennan ($5.20) in 1:55.2.
(Yonkers Raceway)