Hes Watching, he of the perfect, world-record freshman season and subsequent divisional honours, shall make his three-year-old pari-mutuel debut in Yonkers Raceway’s Art Rooney Pace.
Co-owner and trainer Dave Menary confirmed the son of American Ideal is returning to Westchester, where he ended 2013 with a victory in September’s final of the New York Sire Stakes. The win in the $225,000 event was Hes Watching’s third as many Yonkers tries, wrapping an 8-for-8 ($291,722) initial resume.
The 23rd Rooney has 34 eligible sophomore pacing colts/geldings. Eliminations (if necessary) are scheduled for Saturday, May 24th. The $300,000 (gtd.) final is set for Saturday, May 31st.
“He loves the track, and to be perfectly honest, the money’s too good,” Menary said. “We could have gone to the Somebeachsomewhere (at Mohawk), but the divisions are about $100,000 each and he’d probably have to go (1) 49.3 right out of the box.
“Ideally, I hope there are no eliminations (for the Rooney), but regardless, we plan to be there,” Menary said. “He’s going to qualify again tomorrow (Friday) up here (Mohawk).
“After his first (May 2nd) qualifier, (driver) Jimmy (Morrill, Jr.) said he’d never sat behind a horse as straight and as strong. I think of Hes Watching as an Incredible Hulk version of Foiled Again,” Menary said of the 12-for-12 (including qualifiers) $3,000 buy of a lifetime. He’s muscular, with heart and stamina. I’ve never seen a horse dig through the ground the way he does.”
As far a 2014 schedule, “Obviously, after the Rooney, there’s the North America Cup, but we’re going to let him dictate that to us."
(Yonkers Raceway)