Line Officer, one of the octet eligible for the 2011 Art Rooney Pace, invaded Yonkers Raceway Tuesday night. He came away with some road work and a $6,000 payday
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Line Officer ($4.40) won a $12,000 conditioned event which usually doesn't attract those with more than $200,000 on account. He wired the field from the eight-hole, negotiating the mile-and-one-sixteenth in 2:04.1.
Since the sophomore son of Rocknroll Hanover had won just once in a stakes-placed 2010 season, he was eligible to make this restricted event his 2011 debut. Line Officer's freshman highlight was finishing second in last season's $473,000 final of the Woodrow Wilson at the Meadowlands.
George Brennan drove and Noel Daley trained for co-owners Adam Victor and Son, David Scharf and John Fielding.
"He was alright for his first start," Brennan said of Line Officer. "He's supposed to run off from those horses, which he didn't (a 1-1/4 lengths victory), but he always had the gate speed and he used it tonight. He competed well last season against some very good two-year-olds. As far as a stakes horse this season, he's going to have to step it up from this race."
Horsemen are reminded that the entry box for the Art Rooney Pace closes next Tuesday (May 24) at 4 p.m.
Also Tuesday, driver Eric Abbatiello and his 999 career victories finished fourth win his trainee, Eggipus Complex, in a $12,000 trotting assignment.
Abbatiello, the affable, 42-year-old son of a guy who won a few races in his day, next tries for his milestone with day (Freehold) and night (Meadowlands) work Thursday.
(Yonkers Raceway)