Yonkers Raceway’s Saturday night offered a look into the future.
A trio of $25,000 eliminations for the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace saw 18 (after one defection) two-year-olds (17 colts and one gelding) vie for an invite to next Saturday night’s $120,250 finale.
Columbo (Eric Goodell, $26.60), from post position No. 3, won the fastest of the elims, sitting the loosest of pockets as lone gelding Freedom Warrior (Jordan Stratton) was a wild horse…as defined by runaway intervals of:27.1, 54.4 and 1:23.4.
Columbo predictably closed ranks and went by, winning by a length-and-a-quarter in a purse-debuting 1:54. Freedom Warrior held second, while a steppy 3-4 choice Hunter Hill (Tyler Buter) found his best stride late for third.
Columbo, a son of Sweet Lou who was sent off as fourth choice in the affair, is owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Gareth Dowse.
The other elims were won by American Rebel (by American Ideal); co-owners (trainer) Rob Harmon,Robbie Robinson/driver Stratton; (first life win) 1:57.1/$8.30 and Save Me A Dance (by Heston Blue Chip): owner Robert Key/trainer Andrew Harris/driver Jason Bartlett; (life-best) 1:55.2/$6.40.
The eight finalists include the three elimination winners plus Freedom Warrior, Han Solo, Hunter Hill, Level Up and Manticore.
Open draw for the Sheppard Pace takes places Monday afternoon.
Saturday night’s pair of $46,000 Open Handicaps were won by Micky Gee N (Stratton, $8.90) in a life-best 1:50.1 and Eye Ofa Tiger AS (catch-driver Goodell, $5.70) in 1:54.3.
(Yonkers)