A trio of $50,000 divisions in Round 4 of Yonkers Raceway's George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series went postward Saturday night
, giving the participants a next-to-last chance to impress the judges.
The first Free-For-All event saw Mighty Young Joe and trainer-driver Stacey Chiodo author a 15-1, second-over surprise. Leaving from post position No. 5, he watched early as Noble Falcon (Jason Bartlett) grudgingly gave way to Atochia (Greg Griamore) just after a zippy :26.2 opening quarter-mile.
Pole-sitting, 3-10 favourite King Cat Anvil N (Jordan Stratton) moved from third to engage Atochia before the 56-second intermission, Mighty Young Joe, three-wide briefly when Moon Beam (Eric Abbatiello) slipped out before retreating to the cones, advanced for the tow behind the favourite. Atochia was stubborn at the 1:24.4 three-quarters, taking a tenuous lead into the lane.
While King Cat Anvil N began to fade, Mighty Young Joe fanned wide for the drive. "Joe" was able to get the jump on Wholly Louy (Stephane Bouchard) and beat that one by a neck in a season's-best 1:53.3. Thisbigdogwilfight (Brent Holland) grabbed third, while the people's choice ended up fifth.
For Mighty Young Joe, a six-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding owned by Pamela Jane Mensoky, he paid $32 (fifth choice) for his second win in 11 seasonal starts. The longshot led a $453 exacta and $2,357 triple. Meanwhile, the bridgejumpers found themselves searching for solace, as nearly $7,400 of the $8,261 in the show pool was washed away after King Cat Anvil N abdicated. The show payoffs for the three board finishers were $34.40, $42.40 and $43.60, respectively.
Saturday night's second series division had the 1-2 people's preference, Lucky Bettor (Grismore), two-move around Special Report (Larry Stalbaum), then hold sway for consecutive victories.
Leaving from post No. 4, Lucky Bettor regained the rostrum after a :27.1 first two furlongs. He then found a :56 intermission and 1:24.4 three-quarters before Psilvuheartbreaker (Jim Meittinis) moved from third. Lucky Bettor was tough though, holding off "Heartbreaker" by a half-length in 1:52.4, with Special Report third.
For Lucky Bettor, a five-year-old statebred Bettors Delight gelding trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Burke Racing, JJK Stables and Weaver Bruscemi, he paid $3 for his fifth victory in a dozen '09 tries. The exacta returned $5.60, with the triple (three wagering choices in order) paying $17.60.
The final stakes event saw Blueridge Western (Bartlett) grab a third preliminary round victory. Offering minimal suspense from post No. 2, the 2-5 choice had to work a bit to get around pole-sitting Albert Chief A (Pat Berry). From there, "Blueridge" sailed unpressured through fractions of :27.2, :57.2, 1:25.2 and 1:53.2, winning by 2 1/2 lengths.
Test Flight (Cat Manzi) grabbed second as the 33-1 rank outsider. Real Nice (Bouchard), who scaled "Bllueridge" a week ago, was buried to lane here before closing for third.
For Blueridge Western, a four-year-old Allamerican Ingot gelding trained by Kevin McDermott for owner Francis Azur, he paid $2.90 for his fifth win in 13 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $34.60, with the triple returning $85.50.
(Yonkers Raceway)