Yonkers Raceway’s premier freshmenfest, the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace, attracted 20 plebes for the 2017 edition.
Thus, there are a trio of, $25,000 elimination races this Saturday night, with the first two finishers in each—plus the two fastest third-place finishers—returning for the $110,500 finale a week from Saturday night.
The Sheppard, named for the man behind breeding behemoth Hanover Shoe Farms, has its three elims going as races 4, 5 and 6.
Quite a few of these first-season gentlemen have already shown promise.
The second division includes Wild Bill (Ray Schnittker, 5), a winner at first asking (1:53.1) in Pennsylvania All Stars event (Pocono) this past Sunday night. The son of Somebeachsomewhere looks to his give his trainer/driver a second consecutive (Summer Side) Sheppard victory.
Down from Ottawa is Kwik Talkin (Jordan Stratton, post 2), a Well Said colt who is 2-for-2 to begin his career.
Another set of winners landed in the third elim, with Paprike Blue Chip (Corey Callahan, post 1) and Lucky Leonard (Schnittker, post 7). The former, a Roll with Joe gelding, won a Pocono overnight in 1:54.2, while the latter—a Well Said colt—won a PA All Star event in 1:55.1.
The first division finds Americas Guest (Brett Miller, post 3), raced-timed in 1:53 in his purse debut across the river.
Saturday night’s dozen-race dossier (post time 7:10 p.m.) also includes the requisite $55,000 Open Handicaps, with Luck Be Withyou (Brian Sears) and Awsome Valley (Jason Bartlett) in their respective eight-hole for the Pace (8th race) and Trot (9th race).
(Yonkers)