The fifth and final preliminary round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series highlighted Yonkers Raceway's Saturday night social, with a trio of $50,000 events
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Saturday night's first foray saw 1-2 favourite Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras), back from a week's vacation, cruise to his third consecutive series win. Unhurried early from post position No. 4, he watched King Cat Anvil N (Jordan Stratton) get around pole-sitting Moon Beam (Eric Abbatiello) after a :27.1 opening quarter-mile. King Cat Anvil N then rated a modest 29-second second quarter before Foiled Again moved from fourth.
And move he did, going up and over the leader well before the 1:24.2 three-quarters. Foiled Again slapped 4 1/2 lengths on his rivals turning for home before winning by four lengths in 1:52.2
Real Nice (Stephane Bouchard) photoed Special Report (Larry Stalbaum) for second.
For Foiled Again, a five-year-old Dragon Again gelding trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing, JJK Stables and Weaver Bruscemi, he paid $3.10 for his fourth win in five seasonal starts. The exacta paid $6.20, with the triple returning $22.60.
The middle merry go-round found J P Jackpot (Jason Bartlett) playing a very strong game of "Catch Me If You Can." Right to the lead from post No. 3, he led a quintet of chasers through intervals of :28.2, :57. and 1:25.3. Mighty Young Joe (Stacy Chiodo), fresh from last week's upset, tried it first-up but never threatened.
Wholly Louy (Bouchard), the 3-5 favourite, stalked in vein from the pocket, as J P Jackpot turned a length-and-a-quarter running start entering the lane to three lengths at the wire, which he found in a season's-best 1:53. "Louy" was second, with Thisbigdogwilfight (Brent Holland) third.
For J P Jackpot, a six-year-old Stand Forever gelding trained by Jody Dunning for co-owners Ian Fromowitz and John Fielding, he paid $10.80 (second choice) for his third win 13 '09 work nights. He led a $16 exacta and $61 triple.
The last of the Levy legions saw series points leader Blueridge Western (Bartlett) do nothing to decrease his standing in the polls. The 7-10 fave was one of three leavers from post No. 4, before backing off to let Psiluheartbreaker (Jim Meittinis) and Lucky Bettor (Greg Grismore) hook hooves.
Lucky Bettor went up and over "Heartbreaker" after a 27-second first two furlongs, then found a :56.2 intermission and 1:25 three-quarters. Meanwhile, "Blueridge" sat chilly before engaging the leader passing the third quadrant.
Lucky Bettor and Blueridge Western were dinging and donging in and out of the final turn, before "Bluerdge" ended matters. He paced away through the lane--despite his penchant for bearing out a bit--winning by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:52.3. Lucky Bettor held off Psilvuheartbreaker for second.
For Blueridge Western, a four-year-old Allamerican Ingot gelding trained by Kevin McDermott for owner Francis Azur, he paid $3.40 for his sixth win in 14 seasonal starts including four wins and a second in his five series efforts. The exacta paid $8.80, with the triple returning $11.
The Levy, Yonkers' premier Free-For-All event, concludes next Saturday night with a $370,000 final, while the first-ever finale of the Matchmaker--also that night--is worth $229,000 (open draw for both is Tuesday). A pair of series consolations, worth $100,000 (Levy) and $75,000 (Matchmaker), are also scheduled for the same night.
The seven leading point-earners after all preliminary legs, according to Bob (OUTP) Miecuna, are, in order: Blueridge Western, Lucky Bettor, Foiled Again, King Cat Anvil N, Real Nice, Wholly Louy and Atochia, with Mighty Young Joe and Psilvuheartbreaker tied for eighth. However, since a trainer is prohibited by condition from having more than two starters in the final--Lucky Bettor, Foiled Again and Atochia are all Burke stablemates--then both "eighth-place" finishers qualify for the final, with Atochia racing in the consolation.
(Yonkers Raceway)