Yonkers Raceway played host to the fifth and final preliminary round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series on Saturday night.
A very formful barbershop quartet of $50,000 divisions were the last chance to impress the judges.
Before the scintillating summaries, some hot-off-the-presses news: Series point-leader Something For Doc has been sold to trainer Mark Ford, who paid "a lot more than I wanted" in partnership with James Snyder and Dean Davis.
Something For Doc and Annieswestercard, both of whom won their Levy divisions tonight, would, by condition of this series, have kept two-time Levy champ Foiled Again from competing in this season's finale.
"If you want to play the game, you have to pay to be in it and there aren't many high-end horses for sale," Ford said. "I just think Something For Doc is young enough (five years old) and he's proven he's very handy. He gets around Yonkers very well, and the money is tremendous.
"Hopefully, we draw well for the [Levy] final."
Once Annieswesterncard (Yannick Gingras, $2.40) won the draw in the first division of Saturday's Levy action, the outcome didn't exactly figure to be a suspense thriller. Aided by an early break from Sapphire City (Brent Holland), Annieswesterncard was on a lonely lead through intervals of :27.4 and :56.3. Loose pocket-sitting Dancin Yankee (Tim Tetrick) was close some ranks by the 1:23.1 three-quarters, though never threatening the people's preference. Annieswesterncard won by a measured half-length in 1:51.4, with Here We Go Again (Brian Sears) a best-of-the-rest third. The winner's entrymate, Stonehouse Adam (Dan Dube), wound up fifth.
For Annieswesterncard, co-owned by trainer Ron Burke (as Burke Racing), Weaver Bruscemi, M1 and Panhellenic stables, it was his sixth win in 10 seasonal starts (four-for-five in the series). The exacta paid $5.60, with the triple returning $29.80.
The second division -- "Wire-to-wire with Gingras and Burke, the Sequel" -- saw series point-leader Something For Doc ($2.40), from post position No. 2, win for the fourth time in five series starts (:27.2, :57.2, 1:25.1, 1:52.4). Versado (Sears) saved second from the pocket, beaten two and a quarter lengths, with Bet On The Law (Tetrick) a credible, first-up third. Something For Doc's barn buddy, Clear Vision (George Brennan), was fifth.
'Doc,' a five-year-old Western Hanover gelding co-owned by his trainer (as Burke Racing -- at least through this race), Weaver Bruscemi and Strollin' Stable, has won seven of his 11 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $4.40, with the triple (three wagering choices in order) returning $8.10.
In the third division, pole-sitting Razzle Dazzle (Sears, $2.50) took the baton in the relay race for the puny parimutuel propositions (:27.3, :56.4, 1:24.1, 1:52). Eighteen (Dube) protected the pocketed and held second, beaten a length, with a first-up Second Wind N (Tetrick) third.
For Razzle Dazzle, a six-year-old Real Desire gelding trained by Mark Silva for owner Ira Kristel, it was his third win five seasonal starts (three-for-four in the series). The exacta paid $12.80, with the triple returning $51.
See division No. 1 and substitute "Annieswesterncard" with "Foiled Again" for the fourth division recap. No one left against harness racing’s richest-ever pacer (Gingras, $2.30) as he toured the terrain through fractions of :27.4, 57.1, 1:25.2 and 1:53.2. Silent Swing (Sears) stalked from second, beaten a measured length, with Electrofire (Eric Goodell) third.
Foiled Again, a nine-year-old Dragon Again gelding co-owned by his trainer (as Burke Racing), Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables, now has these updated numbers...three-for-five this season/series, 68 wins in 174 career starts and earnings of $4,723,040. The exacta (two faves) paid $3.20, with the triple returning $24
Please note the entrants for the Apr. 27 final ($450,000) and consolation ($100,000) will be determined by the race office.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)