American History matched Yonkers Raceway’s all-age track record Saturday night, dusting an age-restricted handicap field in 1:49.3.
Assigned outside his five rivals in the $35,000, fifth-race pace, American History floated into a four-hole for driver Joe Bongiorno as Turbo Hill (Eric Goodell) laid down a :27-second opening quarter mile and :55.1 intermission.
American History then went after the leader, the tandem throwing it down in a :26.4 third quarter (1:22). He then put away Turbo Hill shortly thereafter, taking a length lead into the lane. After some driver encouragement, American History widened, whipping 36-1 outsider Ideal Flip (Brent Holland) by three lengths. Turbo Hill and Tiger Baron (George Brennan) rounded out the gimmick finishers.
Fresh off his win in Harrington’s Quillen Memorial—in an identical 1:49.3—American History won his fourth race in 15 seasonal starts. The four-year-old son of American Ideal is co-owned by (breeder) Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz & American History Racing and trained by Tony Alagna. He paid $2.30 to win.
“He’s scary fast,” Bongiorno said. “He probably went a :26.1 third quarter and I never had to pull the plugs. There’s no telling just how much he can go in his next start at Lexington.”
Saturday’s effort equalled Theartofconfusion A’s (Austin Siegelman) track record from four weeks ago. It also set a new record for American History’s weight class, displacing himself (1:50) from five weeks ago.
Saturday night’s pair of $42,000 Open Handicaps were won by None Bettor A (Jason Bartlett, $3) in 1:50.4 and Rich and Miserable (Tyler Buter, $7.30) in 1:53.4.
Rich and Miserable set a track record for four-year-old geldings, eclipsing Lord Cromwell (1:54.1), taken last October.
(Yonkers)