Round three of Yonkers Raceway's George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series went postward Saturday night, comprised of five $50,000 get-togethers.
Favourite Second Wind N (Tim Tetrick, $4.90), who jumped it off the odds-on choice a week ago, made amends in the first division. Controlling from the pole, he seated Listowel (Jason Bartlett), then rated a :28.3 quarter-mile and :57.3 half. He then threw in a :27.4 third quarter (1:25.2) as defending series champ Atochia (Yannick Gingras) tried it first-over. That one couldn't sustain the bid and Second Wind N wound up a handy two and three-quarter length winner in 1:53. Bet On The Law (Brian Sears, five winners on the 12-race card), another breaker from a week ago, rallied for second here, with Listowel third.
Second Wind N, a seven-year-old Dream Away Down Under gelding owned by Harry Von Knoblauch and trained by Peter Tritton, won for the first time in six seasonal starts. The exacta paid $19.60, with the triple returning $75.
In the second division, pocket-sitting Forever Just (Tetrick, $7.40), from post position No. 2, found himself carried to the lane (:27.4, :56.1, 1:23.4) by longshot pole-sitter Little Michael B (Eric Goodell) in a life-best 1:52.3. He then ducked inside, whipping the second move of Shoobees Place (George Brennan) by a length. Here We Go Again (Sears) was a rallying third.
Forever Just, a four-year-old son of Bettors Delight trained by Linda Toscano for co-owners Stake Your Claim Stable and Fred Wallace, is now one-for-five this season. The exacta paid $21.40, with the triple returning $244.50.
Something For Doc (Gingras, $2.10) made it three-for-three in series competition in the next split. He outdrew his six rivals and lined 'em up (:28.2, :56.3, 1:25) before unleashing a :27.1 final two furlongs (1:52.1). Nob Hill High (Goodell) protected the pocket and chased, beaten a length and three-quarters, with Meant To Be Me (Jordan Stratton) completing an inside (1-2-3) order of finish.
'Doc,' a five-year-old Western Hanover gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Strollin Stables, has won six of his nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $6.30, with the triple returning $34.
In the fourth division, prohibitive favourite Foiled Again (Gingras, $2.70), twice a series champion, earned his first win in this season's rendition. From post No. 2, he worked around Lettucerocku A (Holland) before a :27.4 opening quarter. He then rated a :57.2 half before second choice Casimir Jitterbug (Goodell) slipped out of third by the 1:25.4 three-quarters, but could only pursue in vein. Foiled Again defeated the second choice by a length and three-quarters in 1:53.1. Lettucerocku A was third.
It was career win No. 66 (in start 172) for harness racing's all-time richest pacer ($4,673,040), a nine-year-old Dragon Again gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables. The exacta paid $3.60, with the triple (three wagering choices in order) returning $7.50.
"I've been happy with him throughout the series," Gingras said of Foiled Again. "He raced very well in the opening round [finishing second to Razzle Dazzle] in his season debut, then came back for third after he [and Razzle Dazzle] battled last week.
"Tonight, he figured to be able to have things his own way and he raced like it."
Pole-starting fourth choice Dancin Yankee (Tetrick, $12.60) left aggressively, forcing Versado (Sears) three-deep early. That one eventually made the lead before a :27-second quarter, then found a :55.4 half. Rockincam (Goodell) came first-up into a 1:24 three-quarters, but was rebuffed. It was Dancin Yankee angling inside, then picking off Versado by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.4. Rockincam was third.
Dancin Yankee, a five-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser co-owned by Robert Briley, Baron Racing and Richard Lombardo, it was his third win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $35.80, with the triple returning $130. A scratch of Code Word eliminated superfecta wagering.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)