Yonkers Raceway's Saturday card is highlighted by the $119,000 final of the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace for two-year-old colts and geldings.
Post time for the baker’s dozen bonanza is 7:10 p.m., with the feature going as the sixth race (approximate post 9 p.m.).
The Sheppard--a Raceway stakes staple for decades, which was named for the man who helped make Hanover Shoe Farms a giant in the breeding business--returns after a nine-year hiatus.
In the interest of full disclosure, the Sheppard actually returned last Saturday night, with a trio of $25,000 eliminations. Those elims produced these eight finalists, with the open draw producing the requisite intrigue.
Doctor Butch (Jason Bartlett) turned in the fastest effort a week ago, strolling home by four lengths in 1:55.2. However, the ($55,000) Art Major colt, owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Linda Toscano, landed the eight-hole for the final. 'Butch' began his career with a second-place effort in a Monticello New York Sire Stakes event.
Scalped (Cat Manzi, post four) and OK Fame (Brent Holland, post six) won the other elims, in 1:56.1 and 1:56.3, respectively. The former, a ($4,000) son of Bettors Delight owned by Brenda Teague and trained by George Teague Jr., also won a sire stakes event (Monticello), while the latter, a homebred son of The Panderosa, was up by a nose in a race with final-yards tight quarters. Mark Ford trains and co-owns with breeder Oak Knoll Stables.
Bartlett also drove Scalped to his elim win, but chose Doctor Butch--despite the impost--for the final.
The author's choice for early favouritism went to Rocnrolwilneverdie (George Brennan, post two), who, as the 3-5 choice to Scalped a week ago, threw down a big back-half challenge before ending up third. The ($55,000) son of Rocknroll Hanover is trained by Chris Ryder for co-owners Frederick Schwartz, Shirley Schwartz and ONDA Racing Stable.
The field for the final of the Sheppard, with drivers and morning-line odds is listed below.
1. Dealmaker (Larry Stalbaum, 6-1)
2. Rocnrolwilneverdie (George Brennan, 8-5)
3. A Bettor World (Jim Pantaleano, 10-1)
4. Scalped (Cat Manzi, 5-1)
5. Americasgottalent (Eric Goodell, 5-1)
6. OK Fame (Brent Holland, 8-1)
7. Hail The Taxi (Jordan Stratton, 12-1)
8. Doctor Butch (Jason Bartlett, 4-1)
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)