Yonkers Raceway offered up round three of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series on Saturday night. Four $50,000 divisions featured 30 of the best Free-For-Allers, with last season’s winner emerging as this season’s target.
Odds-on P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett, $3.20), from post position No. 2, out-sprinted Lucan Hanover (Tim Tetrick) in the first event, winning out of the pocket by a half-length in 1:51.2 (early intervals of :27.1, :56 and 1:23.2). It was four lengths back to 104-1 McErlean (Tyler Buter) in third.
For P H Supercam, an eight-year-old Million Dollar Cam gelding owned by Bamond Racing and trained by Jeff Bamond Jr., it was his fifth win in eight seasonal starts (three-for-three in this series). The exacta paid $9.70, with the triple returning $216. The mile was a season’s-best effort.
“Ideally, you want to win while at the same time, not use the horse very hard,” Bartlett said. “I’ve been fortunate with him thus far.”
The second event was a sharp, first-up effort from veteran statebred Domethatagain (Dan Dube, $24). Sitting a chilly fourth from post No. 4, the 11-1 proposition engaged 3-5 choice Bettors Edge (Yannick Gingras) after that one laid down the law through fractions of :27.2, :57 and 1:25.
Domethatagain, despite drifting wide through the final turn and early in the lane, put away the leader. He then defeated a pocketed Sapphire City (Bartlett) by a half-length in 1:53.2. National Debt (Eric Carlson) was a second-over third, with Bettors Edge fading to fourth.
For fourth choice Domethatagain, a six-year-old son of Bettors Delight trained by Rene Allard and owner Allard Racing, Bob Hamather and Bruce Soulsby, it was his first board finish in four ’15 tries. The exacta paid exacta paid $84.50, with triple returning $529.
Saturday’s third Levy grouping was won by a draw-winning, pocket-protecting Fat Mans Alley (Bartlett, $13.40) in 1:53.4. Stinging 13-10 choice Foiled Again (Gingras), he then released harness racing’s richest-ever horse after a :27.3 opening quarter-mile.
It was a :57-second intermission before Polak A (Brian Sears) -- a winner in his first two series/stateside tries -- moved from third. The two slugged it out passing a 1:25.2 three-quarters, but neither was going to be around when it counted.
Foiled Again was done off the final turn, but not before carrying Fat Mans Alley where he needed to go. It was “Fat Man” whipping a two-move Michaels Power (Dube) by a length, with Texican N (Carlson) a ground-saving third and Machs Beach Boy (Pat Lachance) fourth.
Foiled Again faded to fifth, while Polak A wound up seventh.
For fourth choice Fat Mans Alley, a seven-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding co-owned by Bamond Racing and trained by Jeffrey Bamond Jr., it was his second win in six seasonal starts. The exacta paid $79, the triple returning $626 and the superfecta paid $2,043.
As for Foiled Again, “He just wasn’t himself,” Gingras said. “When Polak A came up alongside, he didn’t grab the bit and fight the way he always does. I’m sure [trainer] Ronnie [Burke] can figure it out. He’s bounced back from these efforts before. I’ve learned never to count him out.
“Hopefully, we see the real Foiled Again next week.”
The evening’s final series event saw Take It Back Terry (George Brennan, $7.60), prevail from the two-hole in a season’s-best 1:51.2…and matching P H Supercam for fastest local effort of 2015. Leaving from post No. 2, “Terry” beat a first-up Beach Memories (Dube) by a neck. Third went to 11-10 choice Dancin Yankee (Brett Miller), who tired on the lead (:26.4, :55.3, 1:23.1). Heez Orl Black N (catch-driver Gingras) was fourth.
Ironically, the winner was trained by Burke, as was the runner-up -- two-for-two in the series coming in -- before that one’s exodus (to trainer Scott DiDomenico).
For second choice Take It Back Terry, a six-year-old Western Terror gelding co-owned by trainer Burke (as Burke Racing), Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Phil Collura, it was his third win in 11 ’15 tries. The exacta paid $46.40, the triple returned $103 and the superfecta paid $1,027.
Series standings, through third leg, are as follows:
1-P H Supercam (225 points)
2-Beach Memories (200)
3(tie)-Michaels Power (175)
3(tie)-Polak A (175)
5-Fat Mans Alley (150)
6-Sapphire City (137)
7-Domethatagain (135)
8-Bettors Edge (133)
In other action, DWs NY Yank (George Brennan, $4.10) won the $42,000 Open Handicap Trot in 1:55.2 by two lengths over Not Afraid for Burke Racing, Weave Bruscemi and Howard Taylor.
Note that since no one took Saturday night’s Pick 5, Monday’s gimmick begins with a carryover of $4,529.90 ($10,000 guaranteed pool).
The Raceway’s live season continues Monday night (post time 7:10 p.m.), a French-centric Tuesday (1 p.m.), then Thursday through Saturday (all at 7:10 p.m., with Matchmaker and Levy Series continuing Fridays and Saturdays). Afternoon simulcasting available daily (none Easter Sunday).
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)