The gods of the open draw had their fun at the expense of the eliminations winners, as Sunfire Blue Chip (1:52 a week ago) and Lucan Hanover (1:52.2 a week ago) drew unfavourably for Saturday night's $450,000 final of the Messenger Stakes.
The 58th Messenger, final jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown. goes as the eighth race (approximate post time 9:30) on Yonkers Raceway's 13-race extravaganza. It filtered out as such:
1-Odds On Equuleus (Brian Sears), 2-Ronny Bugatti (Jason Bartlett), 3-Word Power (George Brennan), 4-Good Day Mate (Tim Tetrick), 5-Twilight Bonfire (Tetrick also listed), 6-Lonewolf Currier (Brian Sears), 7-Sunfire Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras), 8-Lucan Hanover (Dave Miller). Among the three-year-olds are six colts and two (Ronny Bugatti and Lucan Hanover) geldings.
Companion event, the $176,684 final of the Lady Maud for three-year-old fillies, goes as the sixth race (approximate post time 8:50): 1-Certified Ideal (Jim Pantaleano), 2-Handsoffmycupcake (Dan Dube), 3-Antigua Hanover (Bartlett), 4-Charisma Hanover (Gingras), 5-Scandalous Hanover (Miler), 6-Live Entertainment (Sears), 7-Parlee Beach (Tetrick) 8-Jerseylicious (Corey Callahan). Note that "Scandalous" and "Parlee" race as a Casie Coleman trainer (and part-owner) entry.
Charisma Hanover set a track record (1:51.4) for soph fillies in winning her elim, while the other was one by Scandalous Hanover (1:54.3). "Scandalous" was a $15,000 supplemental entrant into the Maud.
Drivers changes shall be made Wednesday morning.
(Yonkers)