American Courage, who started his career seven-for-seven before an out-of-character seventh-place finish in the New York Sire Stakes final last September, began his three-year-old campaign in style with an authoritative 1:52 victory in one of four W.N. Reynolds Memorial divisions for sophomore pacers of both sexes that took place on Friday night at Yonkers Raceway.
Driven by Matt Kakaley in the $23,750 event, American Courage gunned out from post six and was able to clear 1-5 choice Ill Drink To That (Dexter Dunn) before the :27.1 opening quarter. American Courage remained the boss through the :56.1 half and the 1:24.3 three-quarters, then paced home in :27.2 to defeat Ill Drink To That by a length and three-quarters. Shakespeare (Todd McCarthy) followed along in third throughout and ended up finishing in that spot.
The victorious American Ideal colt is trained by Travis Alexander for owner/breeder Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC. American Courage has put away $192,133 in his eight wins, half of which have come at Yonkers, and he returned $9.40 to win.
In the other $23,250 split for the colts and geldings, Coalition Hanover (Kakaley) made front from post five and had command through fractions of :28, :56.3, and 1:24.4, but 1-5 favourite Whichwaytothebeach (McCarthy), who bided his time in the third position, wore the pace-setter down from first-up on the final turn and then pulled away to prevail by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:53. Coalition Hanover held second over Hes A Snob (Mark MacDonald).
A Somebeachsomewhere gelding, Whichwaytothebeach is trained by Brett Pelling for owners Alan Johnston and John Craig. Whichwaytothebeach now has a record of 6-2-2 from ten starts, and he pushed his earnings to $135,733. Whichwaytothebeach paid $2.40 to win.
As far as the fillies, the first of their flights, worth $28,500, went to 1-5 choice Heart Of Mine (Scott Zeron) in 1:55. The runner-up in the New York Sire Stakes final a year ago, Heart Of Mine lined up her foes in post position order and then stepped off panels of :28.2, :58.1, and 1:26.4 on her way to a two length decision. Pocket-sitter Shania Blue Chip (McCarthy) was next, followed by Natchez Belle (Tyler Buter).
Linda Toscano trains Heart Of Mine, a daughter of Roll With Joe, for owners The Bays Stable LLC, Radio Racing Stable, Fred Wallace and Camelot Stable Inc. Heart Of Mine is now a three-time winner from 13 efforts, and she has pocketed $152,655. She returned $2.50 to win.
Easy To Please (Jordan Stratton) trailed through stations of :27.2, :56.4, and 1:25.2 in the second $29,000 tilt for the ladies, but she went widest from fourth-over on the final bend and then powered home strongly to get up in time to prevail by a neck in a 1:55.1 mile. Carrington (MacDonald) was the runner-up from second-over, and DC Batgirl (George Brennan), who wore down leader Podium Girl (Dunn) from first-over through the stretch, got third.
Trainer Michael Hall also co-owns Easy To Please, another Roll With Joe filly, with partners Our Three Sons Stable LLC, Brad Grant, and Howard Taylor. Easy To Please has five victories from 11 lifetime appearances, and she has now banked $64,150. Easy To Please paid $38.00 to win.
On the undercard, 4-5 favourite Meladys Monet (Stratton) picked up his fifth straight win overall and continued to close in on $1.8 million in lifetime earnings, as the 12-year-old took the $37,000 Open Handicap Trot from the pocket in 1:55.3 for trainer Hermann Heitmann and owner Melady Enterprises LLC.
There was also a $24,000 Preferred Trot that went to 5-2 second choice New Heaven (Jim Marohn, Jr.) after he found room between foes from the two-hole in the lane and scored in 1:55.3 for trainer Eric Abbatiello and owner Allister Stables LLC.
(Yonkers)