The Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace, long a Yonkers Raceway stakes staple for two-year-old colts and geldings, returned to the menu Saturday night after a nine-year hiatus.
A trio of $25,000 eliminations - with six contestants each - led into next Saturday's final, worth $119,000.
The first baby battalion was led by OK Fame (George Brennan, $6.90), who sat a three-hole Americasgottalent (Jason Bartlett), with To Beach His Own (Ray Schnittker) loosely pocketed. As Americasgottalent (:28.2, :58.2, 1:27) came back to his rivals through the lane, he bore out as To Beach His Own was bearing in. The pair locked wheels, with To Beach His Own making a break. Visa Viper (Brent Holland) altered, then left, the course. Meanwhile, OK Fame, after hanging a slight right to avoid the close quarters, was up by a nose in 1:56.3.
To Beach His Own, who crossed the line second, was deemed to have initiated the contact and was set down to fourth.
For OK Fame, a homebred son of The Panderosa co-owned by Oak Knoll Stables of Campbellcroft, Ont. and trainer Mark Ford, it was his second win (both in identical times) in three frosh tries. The exacta paid $13.20, with triple wagering scrapped due to a five-horse field.
The second Sheppard elim saw Scalped (Bartlett, $5.50) last on the lead (:28.2, :57.4, 1:26.2, 1:56.1) in an early-career life-best. Dealmaker (Larry Stalbaum) was a passing-lane second, with Rocnrolwilneverdie (Brennan) a first-up third.
For Scalped, a statebred son of Bettors Delight owned by Brenda Teague and trained by George Teague Jr., he is now two-for-two to begin his career. The exacta paid $19.40, with the triple returning $43.
The third and final stakes elim found Doctor Butch (Bartlett, $3) eschewing an early three-hole, then throwing down the gauntlet (:27.2, :57, 1:26.1) to the tune of 1:55.2...by far the fastest frosh event. Hail The Taxi (Eric Goodell) rallied from last among the half-dozen to grab second - beaten four lengths - with A Bettor World (Brennan) third.
For Doctor Butch, an Empire-bred Art Major colt owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Linda Toscano, it was his first win in a couple of tries. The exacta paid $41, with the triple returning $99.
"He's very green, but he has a lot of talent," Bartlett said.
The finalists for the Sheppard, in alphabetical order, are A Bettor World, Americasgottalent, Dealmaker, Doctor Butch, Hail The Taxi, OK Fame, Rocnrolwilneverdie and Scalped. The race will be drawn (open draw) Tuesday afternoon.
Saturday night's $44,000 Open Handicap Pace was won by Dancin Yankee (Greg Merton, $8.70) in 1:51.2.
(Yonkers Raceway)