Nine three-year-old gentlemen—six colts and three geldings—have been entered for Yonkers Raceway’s 27th Art Rooney Pace.
The number of entrants means there’s a game of musical chairs this Saturday night (May 20th), as in nine in a $40,000 elimination paring down to the eight finalists. That octet is set to return week from Saturday (May 27th) for the $300,000 final.
This season’s Rooney is led by Downbytheseaside. The son of Somebeachsomewhere is a world record-holder as the fastest frosh (1:50 at Delaware, OH) ever over a half-mile oval. His life-best 1:49 Red Mile effort matched the world record for two-year-olds at the two-turn mile.
The son of Somebeachsomewhere has won nine of his 14 career starts ($596,016), hitting the board in all of them. He began his soph season with a 1:52.1 win in a ‘sloppy’ Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event at the Meadows.
Brian Brown trains for co-owners Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo and Diamond Creek Racing. ‘Seaside’ is the Saturday night’s back-of-the-bus number, starting from post position No. 9.
Here’s the field:
$40,000 Art Rooney Pace Elimination
1. Funknwaffles
2. Miso Fast
3. Macs Jackpot
4. Summer Side
5. Heavens Gait
6. Stealth Bomber
7. Henry The Dragon
8. Rollin About
9. Downbytheseaside
The companion event, the 13th edition of the Lismore, attracted 15 sophomore pacing fillies. Thus, a pair of $20,000 elims are carded this Saturday, with the first four finishers in each returning for the final ($140,770).
Here are the fields:
$20,000 Lismore – Elimination #1
1. Ashlees Spitfire
2. Rockette
3. Caviart Ally
4. Tequila Monday
5. V String
6. Planet Rock
7. Twist Of Fate
8. Agent Q
$20,000 Lismore – Elimination #2
1. Big City Betty
2. Caviart Cherie
3. World Apart
4. Gotthisone Hanover
5. Aint Three OK
6. Ideal Plan
7. Warrawee Sunshine
(Yonkers)