Stakes elims highlight Mohawk, Yonkers Saturday night cards
While much of the nation's attention was focused on the Grade I Travers Stakes and supporting graded stakes card at Saratoga Race Course earlier that day, harness racing enthusiasts had keen interest in watching a bevy of stakes elims at Mohawk Park in Canada and Yonkers Raceway in New York on Saturday night.
In the opening race on the Saturday card at Yonkers, the first $40,000 Messenger Stakes elim for three-year-old pacing colts, Bettor's Wish (Dexter Dunn) left to protect position from the pylons, gained command before the opener in 28 flat, cruised by the half in 58 flat, met token pressure down the backside and by three-quarters in 1:26.1 then just outlasted the late bid of the pocket-sitting American Mercury 1:53.2.
Hero of the $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at Northfield Park in his previous outing after finishing second in the North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace and Cane Pace finals in prior outings, Bettor's Wish will await his fate in the post draw and will be among the favorites for the $500,000 Messenger Stakes final next Saturday night. The Messenger will be the co-feature on the same card that includes the $500,000 Yonkers Trot final for three-year-old colt trotters that did not require eliminations.
Then just prior to the midway point of the Yonkers card on Saturday night, Aflame Hanover (Corey Callahan) gained command in a 27.4 opener, maintained an honest tempo by the half in 56.3, met token pressure from Air Force Hanover (Jordan Stratton) down the backside, shook loose from that one on the far turn and held safe U S Captain (Jason Bartlett) and Waterway (Joe Bongiorno) through the lane for a two-length score in 1:52.
A sophomore son of Russell Hanover trained by Linda Schadel, Aflame Hanover recorded his fourth straight win and now owns a 4-2-3 slate and $174,000 banked from 16 starts this year. Aflame Hanover had earlier finished fourth in both the North America Cup finals then came back to race through his lifetime conditions at Pocono Downs and Harrah's Philadelphia. Both U S Captain and Waterway also earned a spot in the lucrative final.
One race later in the $46,000 Open Handicap for older trotters, Will Take Charge (Stratton) overcame an extedned first over journey and wore down favored Pinkman (Dunn) through the far turn and drew clear in the lane for a three-length score in 1:54.4. A six-year-old Kadabra gelding trained by Jeff Gillis, Will Take Charge rebounded from a dull effort the week before he notch his fifth win in 16 starts this year and 26th score in 92 career outings as he looks for an invite to the $1 million Yonkers International in October.
Then one race later in the $37,000 4-Year-Old Open Handicap for pacers, American History (Bongiorno) overcame post seven to gain command in a 26.2 opener, rolled by the half in 53.1 and three-quarters in 1:20.2 then held sway through the lane to score in 1:50, equaling the all-age track record shared by The Real One and Tequila Monday. A four-year-old son of American Ideal trained by Tony Alagna, American History notched his second straight win at Yonkers and now owns 13 wins and $670,000 banked from 36 career outings.
One race later in the $46,000 Open Handicap for older pacers, None Bettor A (Jason Bartlett) lived up to his role as the 1-9 favorite when he gained command in a 27.1 opener, cruised by the half in 56 flat, rolled by three-quarters unpressed in 1:23 then coasted home four lengths clear in 1:50.4. A six-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding trained by Andrew Harris, None Bettor A now owns 10 wins and $265,000 banked from 14 starts this year and appears destined for the $150,000 Bobby Quillen Memorial at Harrington Raceway next month.
Several races later on the card in a non-winners of $30,000 last five class, San Domino A (Bartlett) lived up to his role as the 1-5 favorite when he gained command in a modest opener, got a serious breather to the half in 57 flat then just outlasted as gritty, first over effort from Rodeo Rock (Eric Goodell) to score by a neck in 1:52.2. A six-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding trained by Harris, San Domino A recorded his second straight win in the United States since arriving from down under.
Then one race later in the other non-winners of $30,000 last five split for older pacers, Bit Of A Legend N (Stratton) just lived up to his billing as the 6-5 favorite when he overcame an extended first over journey to score by a length in 1:52.4. Trained by Peter Tritton, Bit Of A Legend N has won three straight races this meet and now owns 50 career triumphs from 150 lifetime tries with earnings of over $1.5 million, although his recent form spree may not be a sign that he is destined for the Open or a return trip to the Quillen.
That same evening at Mohawk Park, Alicorn easily lived up to her role as the 3-5 favorite in the first Eternal Camnation elimination for two-year-old filly pacers when she gained command before the opener in 27 flat, cruised by the half in 56.4, rebuffed token pressure from Lady Lou through the far turn then drew clear in the lane to a six-length score in 1:51.
One race later in the first Maple Leaf elimination for older trotters of both genders, Guardian Angel As (Tim Tetrick) just lived up to his role as the 4-5 favorite when he brushed to command from Atlanta (Yannick Gingras) early backside, raced unpressed through the far turn and by three-quarters in 1:24.3 then just outlasted the serious late bid of the mare to score by a neck in 1:51.4.
Then one race later in the second Maple Leaf elim, Crystal Fashion (David Miller) brushed to command before the half, faced token pressure from Manchego through the far turn while Hannelore Hanover made a bad break from the pocket, shook loose from the mare and held safe the late bids of Marion Marauder and 6-5 choice Six Pack to score by three lengths in 1:52.1.
Several races later on the card, Capt Midnight (Andrew McCarthy) overcame post 11 from the second tier, brushed to command before the half and held safe through the lane to capture a $225,000 Nassagaweya split for two-year-old colt pacers in 1:51.
Then several races later in the $34,000 Preferred for older pacers, designed as a local prep for the Canadian Pacing Derby, which did not require eliminations, Jimmy Freight gained command from Western Fame early backside, strolled by the half in 55.1, raced unpressed through the far turn, opened a clear lead at the head of the lane then held safe a belated bid from the first over Courtly Choice to score by just over a length in 1:49.1.
Jimmy Freight, Courtly Choice and Western Fame are all headed to the Canadian Pacing Derby next week to face the likes of Lather Up, McWicked and This Is The Plan. Several of those pacers are also likely heading to Harrington for the Quillen on September 16.
In the opening race on the Saturday card at Yonkers, the first $40,000 Messenger Stakes elim for three-year-old pacing colts, Bettor's Wish (Dexter Dunn) left to protect position from the pylons, gained command before the opener in 28 flat, cruised by the half in 58 flat, met token pressure down the backside and by three-quarters in 1:26.1 then just outlasted the late bid of the pocket-sitting American Mercury 1:53.2.
Hero of the $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at Northfield Park in his previous outing after finishing second in the North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace and Cane Pace finals in prior outings, Bettor's Wish will await his fate in the post draw and will be among the favorites for the $500,000 Messenger Stakes final next Saturday night. The Messenger will be the co-feature on the same card that includes the $500,000 Yonkers Trot final for three-year-old colt trotters that did not require eliminations.
Then just prior to the midway point of the Yonkers card on Saturday night, Aflame Hanover (Corey Callahan) gained command in a 27.4 opener, maintained an honest tempo by the half in 56.3, met token pressure from Air Force Hanover (Jordan Stratton) down the backside, shook loose from that one on the far turn and held safe U S Captain (Jason Bartlett) and Waterway (Joe Bongiorno) through the lane for a two-length score in 1:52.
A sophomore son of Russell Hanover trained by Linda Schadel, Aflame Hanover recorded his fourth straight win and now owns a 4-2-3 slate and $174,000 banked from 16 starts this year. Aflame Hanover had earlier finished fourth in both the North America Cup finals then came back to race through his lifetime conditions at Pocono Downs and Harrah's Philadelphia. Both U S Captain and Waterway also earned a spot in the lucrative final.
One race later in the $46,000 Open Handicap for older trotters, Will Take Charge (Stratton) overcame an extedned first over journey and wore down favored Pinkman (Dunn) through the far turn and drew clear in the lane for a three-length score in 1:54.4. A six-year-old Kadabra gelding trained by Jeff Gillis, Will Take Charge rebounded from a dull effort the week before he notch his fifth win in 16 starts this year and 26th score in 92 career outings as he looks for an invite to the $1 million Yonkers International in October.
Then one race later in the $37,000 4-Year-Old Open Handicap for pacers, American History (Bongiorno) overcame post seven to gain command in a 26.2 opener, rolled by the half in 53.1 and three-quarters in 1:20.2 then held sway through the lane to score in 1:50, equaling the all-age track record shared by The Real One and Tequila Monday. A four-year-old son of American Ideal trained by Tony Alagna, American History notched his second straight win at Yonkers and now owns 13 wins and $670,000 banked from 36 career outings.
One race later in the $46,000 Open Handicap for older pacers, None Bettor A (Jason Bartlett) lived up to his role as the 1-9 favorite when he gained command in a 27.1 opener, cruised by the half in 56 flat, rolled by three-quarters unpressed in 1:23 then coasted home four lengths clear in 1:50.4. A six-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding trained by Andrew Harris, None Bettor A now owns 10 wins and $265,000 banked from 14 starts this year and appears destined for the $150,000 Bobby Quillen Memorial at Harrington Raceway next month.
Several races later on the card in a non-winners of $30,000 last five class, San Domino A (Bartlett) lived up to his role as the 1-5 favorite when he gained command in a modest opener, got a serious breather to the half in 57 flat then just outlasted as gritty, first over effort from Rodeo Rock (Eric Goodell) to score by a neck in 1:52.2. A six-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding trained by Harris, San Domino A recorded his second straight win in the United States since arriving from down under.
Then one race later in the other non-winners of $30,000 last five split for older pacers, Bit Of A Legend N (Stratton) just lived up to his billing as the 6-5 favorite when he overcame an extended first over journey to score by a length in 1:52.4. Trained by Peter Tritton, Bit Of A Legend N has won three straight races this meet and now owns 50 career triumphs from 150 lifetime tries with earnings of over $1.5 million, although his recent form spree may not be a sign that he is destined for the Open or a return trip to the Quillen.
That same evening at Mohawk Park, Alicorn easily lived up to her role as the 3-5 favorite in the first Eternal Camnation elimination for two-year-old filly pacers when she gained command before the opener in 27 flat, cruised by the half in 56.4, rebuffed token pressure from Lady Lou through the far turn then drew clear in the lane to a six-length score in 1:51.
One race later in the first Maple Leaf elimination for older trotters of both genders, Guardian Angel As (Tim Tetrick) just lived up to his role as the 4-5 favorite when he brushed to command from Atlanta (Yannick Gingras) early backside, raced unpressed through the far turn and by three-quarters in 1:24.3 then just outlasted the serious late bid of the mare to score by a neck in 1:51.4.
Then one race later in the second Maple Leaf elim, Crystal Fashion (David Miller) brushed to command before the half, faced token pressure from Manchego through the far turn while Hannelore Hanover made a bad break from the pocket, shook loose from the mare and held safe the late bids of Marion Marauder and 6-5 choice Six Pack to score by three lengths in 1:52.1.
Several races later on the card, Capt Midnight (Andrew McCarthy) overcame post 11 from the second tier, brushed to command before the half and held safe through the lane to capture a $225,000 Nassagaweya split for two-year-old colt pacers in 1:51.
Then several races later in the $34,000 Preferred for older pacers, designed as a local prep for the Canadian Pacing Derby, which did not require eliminations, Jimmy Freight gained command from Western Fame early backside, strolled by the half in 55.1, raced unpressed through the far turn, opened a clear lead at the head of the lane then held safe a belated bid from the first over Courtly Choice to score by just over a length in 1:49.1.
Jimmy Freight, Courtly Choice and Western Fame are all headed to the Canadian Pacing Derby next week to face the likes of Lather Up, McWicked and This Is The Plan. Several of those pacers are also likely heading to Harrington for the Quillen on September 16.
ADVERTISEMENT
