It was a ‘Non-Bettors Wish’ Saturday night during Yonkers Raceway’s eliminations for the 64th Messenger Stakes.
Bettors Wish (Dexter Dunn), the lone $30,000 supplemental entrant into the second jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown, summarily disposed of his five rivals in a non-wagering elim.
A pole-sitting second early in the $40,000 off-the-card elim, Bettors Wish took over from American Mercury (Tyler Buter) before a 28-second opening quarter-mile. After a pedestrian, 58-second intermission, Escapetothebeach (Corey Callahan) tried it first-up from fourth.
Bettors Wish led through a 1:26.1 three-quarters, eventually holding off American Mercury by a half-length in 1:53.2.
Escapetothebeach backed away but held third, with Branquinho (Jason Bartlett) fourth. That quartet goes into next Saturday night’s (Aug. 31st) $500,000 finale of the Messenger. Lyons Johnnyjnr (Dan Dube) and Captain Trevor (Jordan Stratton) completed the order.
Bettors Wish, a Bettors Delight colt has hit the board in 22-of-23 career tries (13 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, $1,131,600). He now has eight wins and three seconds) in 11 ’19 tries ($859,544). Chris Ryder co-owns (with Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm & Bettor’s Wish Partners) and trains.
“He was just so great, so easy to drive,” Dunn said. “I can’t wait for next week.”
The on-the-card, $40,000 elim saw Aflame Hanover (Callahan, $6) finish what he started.
From post position No. 3, he never had an issue (:27.4, 56.3, 1:24, 1:52), whipping pocketed pole-sitter U S Captain (Bartlett) by a length-and-a-half. Waterway (Joe Bongiorno), paired with the runner-up as the 17-10 wagering choice, was a closing third, while 37-1 rank outsider Reigning Deo (George Brennan) was a ground-saving fourth to advance.
Buddy Hill (Eric Goodell) and Air Force Hanover (Stratton) were fifth and last, respectively.
For second choice Aflame Hanover, a Russell Hanover gelding co-owned by (trainer) Linda and Tony Schadel, it was his fourth (consecutive) win in 16 seasonal starts.
“He was super,” Callahan said. “He did everything I asked. His hopple hanger broke, but that didn’t bother him.”
Aflame Hanover traversed the Keystone State exclusively, only leaving (before Saturday) to finish fifth and fourth, respectively, in the elim and final of Mohawk’s North America Cup.
Saturday’s pair of $46,000 Open Handicaps were won by None Bettor A (Bartlett, $2.30) in 1:50.4 and Will Take Charge (Stratton, $8.70) in 1:54.4.
Undeservedly reduced to sidebar status were American History (Bongiorno, $5.60), who matched the all-age track record (1:50) in winning the $37,000 Four-Year-Old Open Handicap after teletimer-torturing intervals of :26.2, :53.1 and 1:20.2.
Double-millionaire Bit Of A Legend N (Stratton, $4.60), who grinded out a 50th career win (in his 150th life start), winning his $30,000 assignment (1:52.4).
Open draws for next Saturday’s four-pack of stakes - $500,000 Yonkers Trot No, 65, Messenger, $124,334 Hudson Filly Trot and $122,224 Lady Maud Pace - take place Monday afternoon.
(Yonkers)