Lexington and Yonkers offer solid Saturday cards
Fans of college football like to stay glued to the set for the myriad of games throughout the day and evening on Saturdays, but serious harness racing fans were keen to watch the stakes-filled card Lexington's Red Mile on Saturday afternoon and then the solid overnight program at Yonkers Raceway that same evening.
In the second race on the card, the first half of the $112,500 Glen Garnsey Memorial for three-year-old filly pacers, Double A Mint (Yannick Gingras) benefited from a pocket trip behind 1-2 favorite Wisdom Tree (Matt Kakaley) through honest splits of 27.2, 54.2 and 1:21.1 for the first three calls, angled out at the head of the lane and overhauled the leader to score by four lengths in 1:47.3. It was the first win in 14 tries this year for the sophomore daughter of Bettor's Delight trained by Ron Burke and ended Wisdom Tree's four-race win streak.
Then one race later in the first of five $62,000 divisions of the Captaintrecherous for two-year-old colt pacers, Workin Ona Mystery (Tim Tetrick) easily lived up to his role as the 1-9 favorite and kept his perfect record in tact when he brushed to command past the opener in 27 flat, got a breather by the half in 54.3, met token pressure from Cant Beach That (Andrew McCarthy) in 1:23 then drew clear to a three-length score in 1:49.3. The juvenile son of Captaintreacherous remained perfect in five outings and lowered his lifetime mark by a full second in the process.
Two races later in the $145,000 Allerage Farms Open Trot, Homicide Hunter (Brian Sears) rallied from well off a wicked tempo and widest of all to score by two lengths in 1:48.4, the fastest mile ever for a trotter. A six-year-old Mr Cantab gelding trained by Chris Oakes, Homicide Hunter recorded his eighth win in 13 starts and pushed his seasonal earnings past $350,000 while lowering the all-age record for trotters and destroying belated International Trot invitee Will Take Charge in the process.
Then one race later in the second $62,000 Captaintrecherous split, Captain Trevor (McCarthy) rallied third over to forge a mild 6-1 upset in 1:49.1. Another juvenile son of Captaintrecherous trained by Brian Brown, Captain Trevor notched his fifth win in seven starts and lowered his lifetime mark by more than two full seconds. Blood Money (Gingras) finished a sharp second as the 2-1 second choice while 4-5 favorite Semi Tough (Kakaley) faded in the lane.
One race later in the third $62,000 Captaintrecherous split, No Mas Amor (Kakaley) posted the biggest shocker of the day when he benefited from a lively outer flow and rallied second over late to score in 1:49.1 at 114-1! A juvenile son of Sweet Lou trained by Ron Burke, No Mas Amor picked the ideal time to garner his diploma and recorded his first win from eight tries - he was second twice and third twice in the other seven - and doubled his earnings past $60,000 while lighting up the tote board.
Then one race later in the $180,000 Allerage Farms Open for older pacers, McWicked (Sears) also benefited from a lively early tempo and rallied second over to gain command at the head of the lane then outkicked Lazarus N (Gingras) to score by a length in 1:46.2, the second-fastest mile in the long history of the sport. A seven-year-old McArdle stallion trained by Casie Coleman, McWicked ended a brief three-race skid to notch his eighth win in 15 starts and pushed his seasonal earnings past $1 million in the process.
One race later in the $35,000 Winners Over Class for older pacers, Military Master A (Marohn) benefited from a lively early tempo and rallied past a gritty Provocativeprince N (Stratton) to score by a length in 1:51.1. A seven-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding trained by Lance Hudson, Military Master A now owns a 5-3-3 and banked $80,000 from 13 starts this year and he has gradually climbed through the conditioned ladder and may earn a spot in the Preferred or the Open Hcp next Saturday.
Then one race later in the $44,000 Open Handicap, Bit Of A Legend N (Stratton) lived up to his role as the 4-5 favorite when he tucked third early, angled out first over nearing the half, grinded his way alongside Great Vintage (Mark MacDonald) down the backside and through the far turn and finally wore that one down in the lane for a neck score in 1:51.1. A nine-year-old Bettor's Delight stallion trained by Peter Tritton, Bit Of A Legend N notched his fifth win from 19 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings past $485,000 and his lifetime bankroll to nearly $2.4 million.
Bit Of A Legend N will almost assuredly be in the $250,000 Dan Rooney Invitational next Saturday afternoon on the International Trot undercard and looms one of the favorites if he can draw favorably. Trainers Ron Burke and Jimmy Takter will likely have one of their top guns in that event and several of them could eventually make their way back to the Mid-Atlantic region for the third edition of the $100,000 Potomac Pace Invitational at Rosecroft Raceway on December 2.
One race later in a non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class for older pacers, Mar Nien A (MacDonald) left alertly from post seven and raced parked to gain command in a 27 opener, got a breather by the half in 56.4, faced token pressure from Mister Daytona N (Mike Simons) down the backside, shook loose from that one and held safe the late bids of Givenupdreaming (Stratton) and Our Zak Whitby N (Brennan) to score in 1:52.3. The six-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding trained by Amanda Kelley recorded his third straight tally and fifth win from 17 starts this year including a prior win in the $15,000 Open Handicap at Saratoga.
While many National Football League fans will be buried on their couches tomorrow afternoon and evening, serious harness racing fans should pay close attention to the stellar card at Lexington. Among the main events are the Kentucky Futurity for three-year-old colt trotters featuring Six Pack and Met's Hall and the Kentucky Futurity Filly with Atlanta and Manchego along with the Tattersalls for three-year-old colt pacers that features another showdown between Maryland-bred Courtly Choice and Stay Hungry.
Since arriving from New Zealand as the 'Down Under Wonder', Lazarus N has lost three times in five tries in North America. Filibuster Hanover (Gingras) overcame a first over journey to finish third in another good try for Burke.
One race later in the fourth $62,000 Captaintrecherous split, Captain Crunch (Scott Zeron) posted a mild 4-1 upset in a formful division when he benefited from a pocket trip and rallied inside late to score in 1:49.1. A juvenile son of Captaintrecherous trained by Nancy Johansson, Captain Crunch rebounded from a pair of setbacks to Captain Ahab to record his fourth win from six starts. Mangogh won the final split for trainer Bruce Saunders.
In the penultimate race on the card, Kissin In The Sand (Scott Zeron) lived up to her role as the 1-5 favorite in the second $114,000 Glen Garnsey split for three-year-old filly pacers when she benefited from a pocket trip behind Youaremycandygirl (Gingras) and wore that one down in the lane to score in 1:47.4. The sophomore daughter of Somebeachsomewhere trained by Johansson, Kissin In The Sand recorded her 10th win from 14 starts this year and her 17th win from 36 career outings and moved much closer to $1 million in career earnings.
Then in the second half of the early daily double at Yonkers, Dream Out Loud N (Brent Holland) just lived up to his role as the 2-5 favorite in a non-winners of $20,000 last five starts class for older pacers when he gained command early, rebuffed a first over bid from Shane Adam down the backside and through the far turn and just outlasted the late surge of Christen Me N (Jordan Stratton) to score by a head in 1:53. It was the sixth win in 31 starts this year for the 11-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding trained by Darran Cassar.
Two races later in the $35,000 4YO Open Handicap, Macs Jackpot (James Marohn, Jr.) lived up to his billing as the 705 favorite when he raced parked to gain command in a 27.2 opener, maintained an honest tempo by the half in 55.2, raced unpressed down the backside and by three-quarters in 1:23 then held safe the late bid of pocket-sitting Edard Hanover (George Brennan) to score by a neck in 1:51. It was the fourth win in 20 starts this year for the Jeff Smith-trained son of Somebeachsomewhere and likely earned a berth in the Open Handicap on the International Trot card next Saturday afternoon.
One race later in the $44,000 Open Handicap for trotters, DW's NY Yank (Brennan) got away fourth, angled out second over past the half, swept to command alongside a parked NF Happenstance (Jack Parker, Jr.) down the backside and outlasted the late surge of Yes Mickey (Jason Bartlett) to score in 1:55.1. A nine-year-old Dilberth Hanover gelding trained by Ron Burke, DW's NY Yank ended a five-race drought and notched his fifth win from 20 starts this year and pushed his career earnings past $1.3 million.
In the second race on the card, the first half of the $112,500 Glen Garnsey Memorial for three-year-old filly pacers, Double A Mint (Yannick Gingras) benefited from a pocket trip behind 1-2 favorite Wisdom Tree (Matt Kakaley) through honest splits of 27.2, 54.2 and 1:21.1 for the first three calls, angled out at the head of the lane and overhauled the leader to score by four lengths in 1:47.3. It was the first win in 14 tries this year for the sophomore daughter of Bettor's Delight trained by Ron Burke and ended Wisdom Tree's four-race win streak.
Then one race later in the first of five $62,000 divisions of the Captaintrecherous for two-year-old colt pacers, Workin Ona Mystery (Tim Tetrick) easily lived up to his role as the 1-9 favorite and kept his perfect record in tact when he brushed to command past the opener in 27 flat, got a breather by the half in 54.3, met token pressure from Cant Beach That (Andrew McCarthy) in 1:23 then drew clear to a three-length score in 1:49.3. The juvenile son of Captaintreacherous remained perfect in five outings and lowered his lifetime mark by a full second in the process.
Two races later in the $145,000 Allerage Farms Open Trot, Homicide Hunter (Brian Sears) rallied from well off a wicked tempo and widest of all to score by two lengths in 1:48.4, the fastest mile ever for a trotter. A six-year-old Mr Cantab gelding trained by Chris Oakes, Homicide Hunter recorded his eighth win in 13 starts and pushed his seasonal earnings past $350,000 while lowering the all-age record for trotters and destroying belated International Trot invitee Will Take Charge in the process.
Then one race later in the second $62,000 Captaintrecherous split, Captain Trevor (McCarthy) rallied third over to forge a mild 6-1 upset in 1:49.1. Another juvenile son of Captaintrecherous trained by Brian Brown, Captain Trevor notched his fifth win in seven starts and lowered his lifetime mark by more than two full seconds. Blood Money (Gingras) finished a sharp second as the 2-1 second choice while 4-5 favorite Semi Tough (Kakaley) faded in the lane.
One race later in the third $62,000 Captaintrecherous split, No Mas Amor (Kakaley) posted the biggest shocker of the day when he benefited from a lively outer flow and rallied second over late to score in 1:49.1 at 114-1! A juvenile son of Sweet Lou trained by Ron Burke, No Mas Amor picked the ideal time to garner his diploma and recorded his first win from eight tries - he was second twice and third twice in the other seven - and doubled his earnings past $60,000 while lighting up the tote board.
Then one race later in the $180,000 Allerage Farms Open for older pacers, McWicked (Sears) also benefited from a lively early tempo and rallied second over to gain command at the head of the lane then outkicked Lazarus N (Gingras) to score by a length in 1:46.2, the second-fastest mile in the long history of the sport. A seven-year-old McArdle stallion trained by Casie Coleman, McWicked ended a brief three-race skid to notch his eighth win in 15 starts and pushed his seasonal earnings past $1 million in the process.
One race later in the $35,000 Winners Over Class for older pacers, Military Master A (Marohn) benefited from a lively early tempo and rallied past a gritty Provocativeprince N (Stratton) to score by a length in 1:51.1. A seven-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding trained by Lance Hudson, Military Master A now owns a 5-3-3 and banked $80,000 from 13 starts this year and he has gradually climbed through the conditioned ladder and may earn a spot in the Preferred or the Open Hcp next Saturday.
Then one race later in the $44,000 Open Handicap, Bit Of A Legend N (Stratton) lived up to his role as the 4-5 favorite when he tucked third early, angled out first over nearing the half, grinded his way alongside Great Vintage (Mark MacDonald) down the backside and through the far turn and finally wore that one down in the lane for a neck score in 1:51.1. A nine-year-old Bettor's Delight stallion trained by Peter Tritton, Bit Of A Legend N notched his fifth win from 19 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings past $485,000 and his lifetime bankroll to nearly $2.4 million.
Bit Of A Legend N will almost assuredly be in the $250,000 Dan Rooney Invitational next Saturday afternoon on the International Trot undercard and looms one of the favorites if he can draw favorably. Trainers Ron Burke and Jimmy Takter will likely have one of their top guns in that event and several of them could eventually make their way back to the Mid-Atlantic region for the third edition of the $100,000 Potomac Pace Invitational at Rosecroft Raceway on December 2.
One race later in a non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class for older pacers, Mar Nien A (MacDonald) left alertly from post seven and raced parked to gain command in a 27 opener, got a breather by the half in 56.4, faced token pressure from Mister Daytona N (Mike Simons) down the backside, shook loose from that one and held safe the late bids of Givenupdreaming (Stratton) and Our Zak Whitby N (Brennan) to score in 1:52.3. The six-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding trained by Amanda Kelley recorded his third straight tally and fifth win from 17 starts this year including a prior win in the $15,000 Open Handicap at Saratoga.
While many National Football League fans will be buried on their couches tomorrow afternoon and evening, serious harness racing fans should pay close attention to the stellar card at Lexington. Among the main events are the Kentucky Futurity for three-year-old colt trotters featuring Six Pack and Met's Hall and the Kentucky Futurity Filly with Atlanta and Manchego along with the Tattersalls for three-year-old colt pacers that features another showdown between Maryland-bred Courtly Choice and Stay Hungry.
Since arriving from New Zealand as the 'Down Under Wonder', Lazarus N has lost three times in five tries in North America. Filibuster Hanover (Gingras) overcame a first over journey to finish third in another good try for Burke.
One race later in the fourth $62,000 Captaintrecherous split, Captain Crunch (Scott Zeron) posted a mild 4-1 upset in a formful division when he benefited from a pocket trip and rallied inside late to score in 1:49.1. A juvenile son of Captaintrecherous trained by Nancy Johansson, Captain Crunch rebounded from a pair of setbacks to Captain Ahab to record his fourth win from six starts. Mangogh won the final split for trainer Bruce Saunders.
In the penultimate race on the card, Kissin In The Sand (Scott Zeron) lived up to her role as the 1-5 favorite in the second $114,000 Glen Garnsey split for three-year-old filly pacers when she benefited from a pocket trip behind Youaremycandygirl (Gingras) and wore that one down in the lane to score in 1:47.4. The sophomore daughter of Somebeachsomewhere trained by Johansson, Kissin In The Sand recorded her 10th win from 14 starts this year and her 17th win from 36 career outings and moved much closer to $1 million in career earnings.
Then in the second half of the early daily double at Yonkers, Dream Out Loud N (Brent Holland) just lived up to his role as the 2-5 favorite in a non-winners of $20,000 last five starts class for older pacers when he gained command early, rebuffed a first over bid from Shane Adam down the backside and through the far turn and just outlasted the late surge of Christen Me N (Jordan Stratton) to score by a head in 1:53. It was the sixth win in 31 starts this year for the 11-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding trained by Darran Cassar.
Two races later in the $35,000 4YO Open Handicap, Macs Jackpot (James Marohn, Jr.) lived up to his billing as the 705 favorite when he raced parked to gain command in a 27.2 opener, maintained an honest tempo by the half in 55.2, raced unpressed down the backside and by three-quarters in 1:23 then held safe the late bid of pocket-sitting Edard Hanover (George Brennan) to score by a neck in 1:51. It was the fourth win in 20 starts this year for the Jeff Smith-trained son of Somebeachsomewhere and likely earned a berth in the Open Handicap on the International Trot card next Saturday afternoon.
One race later in the $44,000 Open Handicap for trotters, DW's NY Yank (Brennan) got away fourth, angled out second over past the half, swept to command alongside a parked NF Happenstance (Jack Parker, Jr.) down the backside and outlasted the late surge of Yes Mickey (Jason Bartlett) to score in 1:55.1. A nine-year-old Dilberth Hanover gelding trained by Ron Burke, DW's NY Yank ended a five-race drought and notched his fifth win from 20 starts this year and pushed his career earnings past $1.3 million.
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