Foiled Again turned 60 Saturday night...doesn't look it, doesn't act it, but it says it right there on his record...60
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"Sixty" as in the number of career wins after his wrapped-up, public workout in the fifth $50,000 division of Yonkers Raceway's George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.
Canada's reigning Older Pacing Horse of the Year Foiled Again ($2.10) outdrew and outclassed his six rivals, with regular driver Yannick Gingras in tow. He retook from early leaver Blatantly Good (George Brennan), then saw the sights through fractions of :27.4, 57.4, 1:25.3 and 1:52.4. He defeated the pocket-sitter by a length-and-three-quarters, with Nob Hill High (Jordan Stratton) third.
Foiled Again, a triple millionaire eight-year-old Dragon Again gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables, is now two-for-three both in series and seasonal work. The exacta paid $5, with the triple (three wagering choices) returning $11.20.
"I mean, 60 wins for a claimer is one thing, but at this level, that's crazy," Gingras said. "He's the same horse every week, just goes about his business, and when I ask him, he's always there. In a series like this, racing six weeks in a row, you try to get away with one of two soft miles, and tonight was one for him.
"He's better at this time this season than he was at this time last season," he added.
Newly-minted (as of a two weeks ago) millionaire Real Nice (Jason Bartlett, $2.10) turned the evening final series foray into a laugher, getting a "cheap" mile of his own (1:53.2) while going the distance by five and three-quarter lengths. MacRaider N (Brennan), BJs Bequia (Mark MacDonald) and Power Of A Moment (Brent Holland) completed the rundown for exotics.
Real Nice, a seven-year-old Real Artist gelding co-owned by Beverly and Gary Paganelli and Anthony Scussel and trained by Rich Banca, is a perfect three-for-three in this series and three-for-six in this season. The exacta returned $4.50, the triple paid $15.60 and the superfecta returned $50.50.
Saturday's other Levy divisions were concluded as such:
Odds-on Sea Venture (Brennan, $2.60) repeated his series win of a week ago, sitting pocketed to Code Word (Gingras) before scooting by. The margin was two and a half lengths in 1:52.4, with Foreign Officer (Bartlett) a ground-saving third.
Sea Venture, a four-year-old Western Terror gelding co-owned by trainer Lou Pena and Racing Team of America, has won three (consecutive) races in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $10.80, with the triple returning $28.60.
Fitzs Z Tam (Brian Sears, $10.60) prevailed from a three-hole, defeating a first-up River Shark (MacDonald) by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1. Clear Vision (Gingras) faded to third as the 11-10 favourite.
Fitzs Z Tam, a five-year-old Cole Muffler gelding trained by Tyler Raymer for co-owners Silva Stables and Martin Scharf, is now two-for-eight this season. The exacta paid $38, with the triple returning $73.50.
Atochia (Gingras, $4.30), as the 11-10 favourite, waltzed to the tune of a :57.2 half, then held pocket-sitting Reibercrombie (Sears) at bay . The margin was a half-length in 1:53.1. Flipper J (Brennan) was third as the public choices finished in order.
Atochia, a millionaire seven-year-old Real Artist gelding trained by Burke for himself, Weaver Brucsemi, JJK and M1 Stables, joined Real Nice with three wins in as many series starts (three-for-four this season). The exacta returned $8.20, the triple paid $21.40 and the superfecta (One More Laugh [Ray Schnittker]) paid $81.50.
Second-choice Art Z (Brett Miller, $5.60) slipped out to race second-over, then edged past a first-up Razzle Dazzle (Sears), winning by a length in 1:52.4. Third went to Dancin Yankee (Bartlett), while 9-10 favourite Southern Allie (Gingras)--despite a :57-second opening half--faded to fifth.
Art Z, a four-year-old Artiscape gelding owned by Richard Lombardo and trained by Jordan Rubin, won his second race of this series and third in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $44.80, with the triple returning $152.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)