Owner Adriano Sorella paid the $30,000 supplement fee to enter Jimmy Freight into the Messenger Pace and driver Louis-Philippe Roy piloted the colt to a track-record 1:50.3 victory in his elimination on Saturday, Aug. 25 at Yonkers Raceway.
The second jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown began with a pair of $40,000 elims, five- and six-horse fields to determine the eight finalists for the half-million-dollar final next Saturday, Sept. 1.
Jimmy Freight, making his—and his driver’s—local debut, made short work of the second soiree. From post position four, he waltzed around Westchester with the greatest of ease and led through fractions of :27.4, :56.2 and 1:23.4. That :26.4 kicker gave Jimmy Freight the track record for three-year-old colts, a tick faster than Source Of Pride (2013).
Pole-sitting Springsteen was out from third down the backside, moved to within a length-and-three-quarters in the final turn before being rebuffed. Jimmy Freight widened to a three-and-three-quarter lengths lead while Stay Hungry tried his luck from off-the-pace, rallying for third without ever threatening.
A loosely-pocketed Winston wound up fourth, with Decoy and Kwik Talkin both outrun.
For Jimmy Freight, a son of Sportswriter trained stateside by Andrew Harris, it was his eighth win in 13 seasonal starts (career earnings now over $519,000). He paid $3.30 to win. The exacta paid $10, the triple returned $17.80 and the superfecta paid $50.50.
“He’s just perfectly suited for the half-mile track,” Roy said. “I never had to pull the plugs. When we were in the third turn, he wanted to go even more.”
The opening elim for the Messenger saw polester Babes Dig Me retake from Topville Olympian, then hold both that one and a first-up JK Wildfire at bay all through splits of :26.3, 56.1 and 1:24.3 in progress to a lifetime-best 1:52.2.
Babes Dig Me defeated JK Wildfire by a hard-fought head, with Topville Olympian beaten a neck. The battle for fourth was equally interesting, as 7-10 favourite Nutcracker Sweet was poor but had just enough to photo long-shot Wild Bill.
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For second-choice Babes Dig Me, a son of Somebeachsomewhere co-owned by Brad Grant, Joe Sbrocco, Robert Leblanc & In the Gym Partners and trained by Tony Alagna, he’s now 2-for-14 this season. Driven by George Brennan, he paid $6.30 to win. The exacta paid $58.50, with neither triple nor superfecta wagering offer due to the abbreviated assemblage.
“Cat Manzi, who works for Tony [Alagna] said I’d like him and he was right,” Brennan said. “I learned he’s handy and he can fight one off.”
The open draw is Monday afternoon, Aug. 27 for the Sept. 1 card, featuring the Messenger, $500,000 Yonkers Trot (second jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown), the $129,014 Hudson Filly Trot & $112,904 Lady Maud Pace.
Saturday night’s $44,000 Open Handicap Pace was won by favoured Scott Rocks (Eric Goodell, $6.40) in 1:52.1.
As for Sears, he won twice Saturday night, bringing the milestone-in-waiting career count to 9,998.
The Sunday, Aug. 26 card, the latest “French’ foray, offers a first post of 12:45 p.m.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)