Yonkers and Meadowlands offer solid Saturday night cards
While many of the sport's best older horses have already been turned out for the year, save those few gearing up for the $100,000 Potomac Pace at Rosecroft Raceway next month, both Yonkers Raceway and the Meadowlands offered intriguing cards on Saturday night.
Saturday's third race at the Meadowlands, however, was the $50,000 Garden State Stakes for two-year-old colt trotters and Battenberg (Corey Callahan) was able to get away with soft fractions of 29.2, 59 flat and 1:27.3 then just outlasted the late surge of 6-5 second choice Hudson River (Brian Sears) for a head score in 1:56.1. A juvenile son of Trixton trained by Hall of Famer Joe Holloway, Battenberg notched his second win from eight starts and banked over $65,000 along the way.
Two races later on the card in the $50,000 Garden State Stakes for two-year-old filly trotters, Princess Deo (Andrew McCarthy) benefited from a second over journey behind longshot Golden Tricks (Ake Svandstedt) through the far turn, angled three-wide turning for home and held safe Evident Beauty (David Miller) for a length score in 1:56.2. Another juvenile daughter of Trixton trained by Noel Daley, Princess Deo mow owns a 3-6-1 slate and $170,000 banked from 12 starts this season.
Then two races later in a non-winners of $11,750 last five starts class for older pacers, Rockin Motion (Yannick Gingras) posted a mild 8-5 upset when he gained command in a modest 28 opener, strolled by the half in 57 flat then held safe the first over bid of even-money choice Ocean Colony (David Miller) through the far turn and the stretch to score by a determined head in 1:52.1. A sophomore son of Pet Rock trained by Ron Burke, Rockin Motion notched his fifth win in 22 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings toward $90,000.
Then two races later in a non-winners of $16,000 last five starts class for pacers, Dragon Time (Gingras) saved ground down the backside, slipped out second over on the far turn, fanned widest of all in the lane, swept to command mid stretch then just outlasted the late surge of stablemate Burkentine Hanover (David Miller) to score by a neck in 1:51.3. A sophomore son of Bettor's Delight trained by Burke, Dragon Time notched his second straight score and now owns four wins from 17 starts this year and seven wins and $105,000 banked from 27 career tries.
That same evening at Yonkers Raceway, The Real One (Daniel Dube) continued his resurgence when he rallied third over and widest of all to post a 7-1 upset in the first non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class in 1:53.2. An eight-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Pat Lachance, The Real One recorded his second straight tally and now sports a 6-5-3 slate and nearly $120,000 banked from 26 starts this year and the all-age track record holder at Yonkers now boasts 47 wins and $1.04 million banked from 178 career outings.
Then one race later in the $35,000 3 & 4-year-old Open, Mac's Jackpot (Jim Marohn, Jr.) lived up to his role as the 7-5 favorite when he left to gain command in a wicked 26.2 opener, maintained an honest tempo to the half in 56 flat and by three-quarters in 1:24 then edged clear late to score by three lengths in 1:53.1. A four-year-old Somebeachsomewhere trained by Jeff Smith, Mac's Jackpot notched his second straight and now owns a 6-4-5 slate and $220,000 banked from 26 starts this year.
One race later in another non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class for older pacers, Badix Hanover (Jason Bartlett) overcame a long, first over journey to gain command on the far turn and outlasted the late bid of Take It Back Terry (George Brennan) to score by a head in 1:54. A six-year-old Western Ideal gelding trained by Richard Banca, Badix Hanover notched his second win in three starts and now owns a 7-4-6 slate and over $120,000 banked from 29 seasonal outings.
Then one race later in the $44,000 Open Handicap for older pacers, Mach It So (Joe Bongiorno) left alertly to easily gain command from his assigned post five before a 27 flat opener, got a slight breather by the half in 55.3, rolled by three-quarters in 1:22.4 then edged clear under mild urging to a four-length score in 1:51.4. A durable, versatile, classy eight-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Jeffrey Bamond, Jr., Mach It So notched his second straight win in the Open and now owns nine wins from 27 starts this year and a stellar 49 wins and $2.75 million banked from 147 career outings.
One race later in another non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class for older pacers, Soho Lennon A (Brian Sears) easily lived up to his billing as the 6-5 favorite when he gained command in a dull 28.3, strolled by the half in 58.4, met token pressure by three-quarters in 1:27 then held sway late for a two-length score over Christen Me N (Jordan Stratton) in 1:54.4. An eight-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Doug Dilloian, Jr., Soho Lennon A notched his third straight win and fourth tally in his last five tries and owns eight wins from 23 seasonal outings.
Then one race later in the $35,000 Preferred for older pacers, Gokudo Hanover (Dube) gained command in a solid 27.3 opener, maintained an honest tempo by the half in 56 flat, opened a clear lead by three-quarters in 1:23.4 and romped home five lengths clear in 1:52.1 as the 9-2 fourth choice. A six-year-old Cam's Card Shark gelding trained by Scott DiDomenico
One race later in the penultimate race on the card in a non-winners of $20,000 last five starts class for older pacers, Real Lucky N (Marohn) overcame an extended first over journey to wear down McEarlean and outlast the late bid of Dr J Hanover to score by a length in 1:53.1. A six-year-old Real Desire stallion trained by Rob Harmon, Real Lucky N notched his second straight score and now owns six wins and nearly $70,000 banked from 17 seasonal outings.
Then one race later in the Saturday finale, Mister Daytona (Marohn) gained command from post six before a 27.3 opener, got a breather to the half in 56.4, met token pressure from McSpidey (Mark Macdonald) by three-quarters in 1:25, shook loose from that one then outlasted the late bid of Aberdeen Hanover (Shaun Vallee) to score in 1:53.4 in the non-winners of $20,000 last five event. A six-year-old American Ideal stallion trained by Mike Simons, Mister Daytona now owns a 5-5-3 slate and over $100,000 banked from 22 starts this year.
That same evening at Dayton Raceway in Ohio, Foiled Again (Chris Page) continued a successful journey on his farewell tour when he overcame post nine to gain command in a modest 28.1 opener, got a breather by the half in 57.2, shook off token pressure before three-quarters in 1:25.4 then held safe the inside bid of Communicator (Jason Brewer) to score by a length in 1:54.2. The ageless 14-year-old Dragon Again gelding trained by Ron Burke, Foiled Again now owns an 8-5-3 slate and $57,000 banked from 23 starts this year and boasts 106 wins and 7.615 million banked from 326 career outings.
Foiled Again will make the next stop on his farewell tour at the Meadowlands in two weeks then will venture south to Rosecroft Raceway for an aged pacer invitational on the undercard of the $100,000 Potomac Pace on Sunday, December 2. It will mark his first appearance at either of Maryland's two harness tracks during his prolonged, Hall of Fame career.
Three races later in the $18,000 Open, Tookadiveoffdipper (Dan Noble) lived up to his billing as the 6-5 choice when he carved out honest fractions of 26, 53.1 and 1:21 through the first three calls then held sway late to score in 1:49.2. A four-year-old Always A Virgin gelding trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr., Tookadiveoffdipper recorded his seventh win in 22 starts this year and now owns 22 wins and $180,000 banked from 50 career tries and lowered his lifetime mark by nearly a full second in the process.
Saturday's third race at the Meadowlands, however, was the $50,000 Garden State Stakes for two-year-old colt trotters and Battenberg (Corey Callahan) was able to get away with soft fractions of 29.2, 59 flat and 1:27.3 then just outlasted the late surge of 6-5 second choice Hudson River (Brian Sears) for a head score in 1:56.1. A juvenile son of Trixton trained by Hall of Famer Joe Holloway, Battenberg notched his second win from eight starts and banked over $65,000 along the way.
Two races later on the card in the $50,000 Garden State Stakes for two-year-old filly trotters, Princess Deo (Andrew McCarthy) benefited from a second over journey behind longshot Golden Tricks (Ake Svandstedt) through the far turn, angled three-wide turning for home and held safe Evident Beauty (David Miller) for a length score in 1:56.2. Another juvenile daughter of Trixton trained by Noel Daley, Princess Deo mow owns a 3-6-1 slate and $170,000 banked from 12 starts this season.
Then two races later in a non-winners of $11,750 last five starts class for older pacers, Rockin Motion (Yannick Gingras) posted a mild 8-5 upset when he gained command in a modest 28 opener, strolled by the half in 57 flat then held safe the first over bid of even-money choice Ocean Colony (David Miller) through the far turn and the stretch to score by a determined head in 1:52.1. A sophomore son of Pet Rock trained by Ron Burke, Rockin Motion notched his fifth win in 22 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings toward $90,000.
Then two races later in a non-winners of $16,000 last five starts class for pacers, Dragon Time (Gingras) saved ground down the backside, slipped out second over on the far turn, fanned widest of all in the lane, swept to command mid stretch then just outlasted the late surge of stablemate Burkentine Hanover (David Miller) to score by a neck in 1:51.3. A sophomore son of Bettor's Delight trained by Burke, Dragon Time notched his second straight score and now owns four wins from 17 starts this year and seven wins and $105,000 banked from 27 career tries.
That same evening at Yonkers Raceway, The Real One (Daniel Dube) continued his resurgence when he rallied third over and widest of all to post a 7-1 upset in the first non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class in 1:53.2. An eight-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Pat Lachance, The Real One recorded his second straight tally and now sports a 6-5-3 slate and nearly $120,000 banked from 26 starts this year and the all-age track record holder at Yonkers now boasts 47 wins and $1.04 million banked from 178 career outings.
Then one race later in the $35,000 3 & 4-year-old Open, Mac's Jackpot (Jim Marohn, Jr.) lived up to his role as the 7-5 favorite when he left to gain command in a wicked 26.2 opener, maintained an honest tempo to the half in 56 flat and by three-quarters in 1:24 then edged clear late to score by three lengths in 1:53.1. A four-year-old Somebeachsomewhere trained by Jeff Smith, Mac's Jackpot notched his second straight and now owns a 6-4-5 slate and $220,000 banked from 26 starts this year.
One race later in another non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class for older pacers, Badix Hanover (Jason Bartlett) overcame a long, first over journey to gain command on the far turn and outlasted the late bid of Take It Back Terry (George Brennan) to score by a head in 1:54. A six-year-old Western Ideal gelding trained by Richard Banca, Badix Hanover notched his second win in three starts and now owns a 7-4-6 slate and over $120,000 banked from 29 seasonal outings.
Then one race later in the $44,000 Open Handicap for older pacers, Mach It So (Joe Bongiorno) left alertly to easily gain command from his assigned post five before a 27 flat opener, got a slight breather by the half in 55.3, rolled by three-quarters in 1:22.4 then edged clear under mild urging to a four-length score in 1:51.4. A durable, versatile, classy eight-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Jeffrey Bamond, Jr., Mach It So notched his second straight win in the Open and now owns nine wins from 27 starts this year and a stellar 49 wins and $2.75 million banked from 147 career outings.
One race later in another non-winners of $30,000 last five starts class for older pacers, Soho Lennon A (Brian Sears) easily lived up to his billing as the 6-5 favorite when he gained command in a dull 28.3, strolled by the half in 58.4, met token pressure by three-quarters in 1:27 then held sway late for a two-length score over Christen Me N (Jordan Stratton) in 1:54.4. An eight-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Doug Dilloian, Jr., Soho Lennon A notched his third straight win and fourth tally in his last five tries and owns eight wins from 23 seasonal outings.
Then one race later in the $35,000 Preferred for older pacers, Gokudo Hanover (Dube) gained command in a solid 27.3 opener, maintained an honest tempo by the half in 56 flat, opened a clear lead by three-quarters in 1:23.4 and romped home five lengths clear in 1:52.1 as the 9-2 fourth choice. A six-year-old Cam's Card Shark gelding trained by Scott DiDomenico
One race later in the penultimate race on the card in a non-winners of $20,000 last five starts class for older pacers, Real Lucky N (Marohn) overcame an extended first over journey to wear down McEarlean and outlast the late bid of Dr J Hanover to score by a length in 1:53.1. A six-year-old Real Desire stallion trained by Rob Harmon, Real Lucky N notched his second straight score and now owns six wins and nearly $70,000 banked from 17 seasonal outings.
Then one race later in the Saturday finale, Mister Daytona (Marohn) gained command from post six before a 27.3 opener, got a breather to the half in 56.4, met token pressure from McSpidey (Mark Macdonald) by three-quarters in 1:25, shook loose from that one then outlasted the late bid of Aberdeen Hanover (Shaun Vallee) to score in 1:53.4 in the non-winners of $20,000 last five event. A six-year-old American Ideal stallion trained by Mike Simons, Mister Daytona now owns a 5-5-3 slate and over $100,000 banked from 22 starts this year.
That same evening at Dayton Raceway in Ohio, Foiled Again (Chris Page) continued a successful journey on his farewell tour when he overcame post nine to gain command in a modest 28.1 opener, got a breather by the half in 57.2, shook off token pressure before three-quarters in 1:25.4 then held safe the inside bid of Communicator (Jason Brewer) to score by a length in 1:54.2. The ageless 14-year-old Dragon Again gelding trained by Ron Burke, Foiled Again now owns an 8-5-3 slate and $57,000 banked from 23 starts this year and boasts 106 wins and 7.615 million banked from 326 career outings.
Foiled Again will make the next stop on his farewell tour at the Meadowlands in two weeks then will venture south to Rosecroft Raceway for an aged pacer invitational on the undercard of the $100,000 Potomac Pace on Sunday, December 2. It will mark his first appearance at either of Maryland's two harness tracks during his prolonged, Hall of Fame career.
Three races later in the $18,000 Open, Tookadiveoffdipper (Dan Noble) lived up to his billing as the 6-5 choice when he carved out honest fractions of 26, 53.1 and 1:21 through the first three calls then held sway late to score in 1:49.2. A four-year-old Always A Virgin gelding trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr., Tookadiveoffdipper recorded his seventh win in 22 starts this year and now owns 22 wins and $180,000 banked from 50 career tries and lowered his lifetime mark by nearly a full second in the process.
ADVERTISEMENT
