Seventier led at every call and was a dominant 1:56.3 winner in the $76,000 final of the John Brennan Trotting Series on Wednesday night (April 27) at Yonkers Raceway.
Driven by Jason Bartlett, Seventier went right to the point from post 6 and led Hat Trick Marleau at the quarter, trotted in :29. The tempo remained slow to the half, which Seventier reached in just :58.4. But B Nicking, who had floated out from post 8 and was unable to find a seat, advanced into second as the horses raced under the wire for the first time.
B Nicking continued to apply pressure to Seventier around the third turn and over to the 1:26.3 three-quarters, but Seventier accelerated entering the far turn and got rid of B Nicking. Hat Trick Marleau couldn't match the leader's speed either and gapped, allowing B Nicking to drop into a loose pocket as Seventier drew away in progress to a 5-1/4-length victory. Hat Trick Marleau did come back on a bit on the inside in the lane and wound up second, with Lady Ann NO, the winner's entrymate, up for third after sitting on the rail and getting shuffled back in the middle-half.
A four-year-old Chapter Seven gelding, Seventier is trained by Smedshammer and owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC. This was his 10th victory and he has now earned $161,776. Sent at 8-5, Seventier paid $5.30 to win and led a $14 exacta and a $21 trifecta.
Bartlett also won the $35,000 consolation with Plumb, who took command racing to the :27.4 initial quarter and never looked back on her way to a 1:56 tally. She defeated P L Oscar by 2-1/2 lengths, with The Irishman third.
Jenn Bongiorno trains Plumb, a five-year-old daughter of Better Caviar, for owners JB Racing and Frank Canzone. She is now a 15-time winner from 67 tries and she has now pocketed $166,370. She was the 3-5 favourite and returned $3.40 to win. The exacta was worth $20 and the trifecta kicked back $78.
Yonkers will finish this week with live racing on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, and then next week, the schedule will switch to a Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/
(Yonkers Raceway)