First-season statebreds were on display Thursday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the NYSS Jim Crawford Pace for two-year-old colts and geldings. Four divisions went at it.
Sheppard Pace winner Hail The Taxi (John Campbell) enjoyed yet another successful Westchester work night, this time in the third ($71,605) event. The son of Art Major, who authored a 35-1 stunner in that $119,000 July stakes race, was a quite impressive, three-move winner here despite a 33-day layoff.
Leaving outside his six rivals, he was wide early before finding a seat in fourth. Artist Night (Ron Pierce) was off to the races at the races, after a :28-second opening quarter-mile and a :57-second half. Hail The Taxi was on the move again by the half, making up lengths going to the 1:25.2 three-quarters. He ducked in for a breather when Manhattan Benny (Stephane Bouchard) tired, biding his time as Artist Night maintained a short lead turning for home.
However, once Hail The Taxi pulled pocket, he was gone. Hail The Taxi rolled and widened, winning by four lengths in 1:55. He defeated slight 3-2 favourite, Sir Carys Z Tam (Pat Lachance), who snapped Artist Night for second.
For Hail The Taxi, trained by Jim Campbell for owner Fashion Farms, he returned $5 for his second win in five seasonal starts.
"He's been a ready-made horse from the horse from the beginning," John Campbell said. "He's done whatever we've asked, nothing fazes him and he was very good tonight."
Thursday's final ($72,905) statebred event saw Bet The Moon (Jason Bartlett) make the lead (:27.4 opening quarter), then sting division leader Doctor Butch (Tim Tetrick) before releasing the 15-cents-on-the-dollar choice in the second turn. Doctor Butch then found a :56.4 intermission and 1:26.1 three-quarters, taking a length-and-a-quarter lead into the lane.
However, Bet the Moon ducked inside and picked off the people's preference, prevailing by a neck in 1:55.2. Third went to Ronny Bugatti (George Brennan), with Framed Art (Mark MacDonald) fourth.
For Bet The Moon, a Bettors Delight colt owned by Edwin Gold and trained by Ron Burke, he returned $10.20 for his second win in eight '12 tries.
The opening ($72,905) division was won by second-choice Track Master D (Bartlett), who retook the lead from Scalped (Montrell Teague), cut the mile (:28.3, :58, 1:27), then held that one off by a half-length in a life-best 1:55.2. The winner had to withstand an objection by the runner-up. Swift As A Shadow (Tetrick) was a first-up third as the 6-5 choice, with a Bettor World (Brennan) fourth.
For Track Master D, a Bettors Delight colt trained by Tony Alagna for co-owners Louis Willinger, Tangie Massey, Minisink Farms and Eagles Soar Partners, he returned $4.70 for his second win in five seasonal starts.
The second ($72,905) grouping saw a pocketed 12-1 shot Visa Viper (Brennan) easily go by the 1-5 favourite, Deny Deny Deny (Tetrick), by a length-and-a-quarter in a life-best 1:54.2. The fave had led through fractions of :28.2, :57.3 and 1:26. Third went to Americasgottalent (Bartlett), with Story Book (Larry Stalbaum) fourth.
For Visa Viper, a son of Bettors Delight co-owned by Gus and Alan Johnston and trained by Brian Magie, Jr., he paid $27.60 for his second win in eight seasonal starts.
(Yonkers Raceway)