There were lacking in quantity, but there was some quality to be found Saturday night, May 18 during the eliminations for winning Yonkers Raceway’s Art Rooney and Lismore Paces.
The 29th Rooney began with two, six-horse $40,000 elims for the three-year-old colts and geldings.
Odds-on Air Force Hanover won the first elimination, though with few style points. Away from post position two, he controlled a tempo of :27.4, :56.2 and 1:24.2 after taking over from Captain Malicious.
Air Force Hanover did have to hold off a long, first-up Buddy Hill. The two-and-a-half-length lead in and out of the final turn was a diminishing neck in the 1:52.4 mile, with Price Hanover third and Captain Malicious fourth. Goldberg was an unlucky fifth, sitting a trapped three-hole behind a tiring pocket-sitter and a gapping second-over number; both of whom beat him to the line.
For Air Force Hanover, a son of Somebeachsomewhere co-owned by County Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo & W. J. Donovan and trained by Brian Brown, it was his second win and three seasonal starts. Dave Miller drove the $2.20 winner. The exacta paid $26.40, the triple returned $127 and the superfecta paid $343.50.
The second elim for the Rooney saw Bettors Wish stuff 3-4 favourite Blood Money in behind, then go the distance. From post three, he laid down intervals of :28, :57.2, 1:26.1 and 1:53.2, easily handling his pocketed rival by a length and a quarter. Rollwithpapajoe sat a three-hole and photoed a first-up Branquinho for third
For second-choice Bettors Wish, a Bettors Delight colt co-owned by (trainer) Chris Ryder, Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm and Kenneth Solomon, he’s won both of his ’19 tries. Dexter Dunn drove the $5.00 winner. The exacta paid $9.30, the triple returned $14.80 and the superfecta paid $33.80.
The companion event—the 15th Lismore for soph fillies—offered two, $20,000 eliminations, though the first of those didn’t eliminated anyone.
A quartet of lasses (after a defection) had Annie Hill move from last, then pick off pacesetter As Time Goes By by a neck in 1:55.4. Privacy Hanover was third and Mi Nina Bonita fourth. Brian Sears drove the $2.90 winner.
The second elim was won by Queen of the Pride—from post No. 2—assuming the lead early, going a clip of :27.2, :56 and 1:24.4 before hitting the line in 1:53.2. Bestseller Hanover moved from third and was a solid second, beaten three-quarters of a length.
Rockn Philly was a belated third and Rock N McRoll snapping Blue Ivy for fourth. Jordan Stratton drove the $2.40 winner.
The open draws for both the Lismore ($109,234) and Rooney ($300,000) take place Monday afternoon, May 20, in advance of the Saturday, May 25 finals.
Saturday night’s pair of $44,000 Open Handicaps were won by:
--Trot—Swansea (Bongiorno, $8.20) in 1:56,
--Pace—Mac’s Jackpot (Dunn, $5.40) in 1:52.
(with files from Yonkers Raceway)