Yonkers Raceway's premier proving ground for Free-For-Allers, the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series, began Saturday night with six $50,000 divisions
.
Foreign Officer (Jim Pantaleano, $5.50), as the 17-10 favourite, popped open the six-pack in 1:52.4, the swiftest local race of the season.
Leaving from the pole, he stuffed Dreamlands Art (Yannick Gingras) in behind before yielding to the season-debuting Wholly Louy (Dave Miller). Real Gentleman (George Brennan) then offered a stern, first-up challenge before Foreign Officer ducked inside. He defeated Real Gentleman by three-quarters of a length, with "Louy," Trueys Legacy (Mark Lewis) and Dreamlands Art rounding out the payees.
Foreign Officer, a four-year-old Western Ideal gelding trained by Tony Alagna for co-owners David Rovine, Melvin Hartman, Foreign Officer Partners and JL Benson Stables Inc., is now three-for-seven this season. He led a $24 exacta and an $86 triple.
Two-time defending series champ, double-millionaire and puny pari-mutuel proposition Foiled Again (Gingras) made short work of the second Levy event.
Outdrawing his seven rivals, he re-took from barn buddy Dymond Joe Mindale (Miller) in the first turn, then never had a problem. Foiled Again defeated "Joe" by a comfy two and a half lengths in 1:54, with Whackamole Hanover (Dan Dube), Real Nice (Brennan) and Aliveandwell N (Cat Manzi) also making money.
Foiled Again, seven-year-old Dragon Again gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables. He returned the minimum-daily-requirement $2.10 for his first win in a couple of seasonal starts. The exacta ("Whackamole" second for wagering purposes) paid $29.20, with the triple (Real Nice third for wagering purposes) returning $102.
Favourite Gallant Yankee (Jason Bartlett, $5.10) made it five consecutive Yonkers wins, taking the third Levy grouping in a season's-best 1:53. Leaving from post No. 6 and two-moving to the lead right at the half, he easily defeated Go Go Solano (Dube) by two and a half lengths. Lucky Bettor (Gingras), Valentino (Pantaleano) and Southwind Lynx (Manzi) scooped up the remainder.
Gallant Yankee, a five-year-old Western Hanover gelding trained by Mark Ford for owner James Snyder, is now seven-for-10 this season. The exacta paid $16.80, with the triple returning $29.
Lahaye (Brennan, $6) was up on the money in the fourth Levy get-together, sitting a three-hole from post No. 2 and beating pocket-sitting Forensic Z Tam (Pat Lachance) by a half-length in a season's-best 1:54.2. Pangiorno (Dube) cut the mile and wound up third, with a best-of-the-rest Versado (Gingras) and Jetty (Manzi) getting the minor moolah.
It should be noted that both Mainland Key N (Goodell) and 3-2 choice Legal Litigator (Miller) were badly compromised when The Mohegan Pan (Bartlett) broke early in front of them.
Lahaye, a five-year-old Real Artist gelding and stablemate of Gallant Yankee (owner Snyder, trainer Ford), won his second race in nine '11 tries. He led a $49.60 exacta, $143.50 triple and $1,510 superfecta.
Odds-on pole-sitter This Is Wyatt (Goodell, $2.90) needed every bit of a perfect pocket trip in the fifth Levy social to out-game Blueridge Western (Brennan) by a head in 1:54. Southern Allie (Gingras) was a very credible, first-up third, while Shooebees Place (Stephane Bouchard) and Doubletrouble (Bartlett) also earned appearance fees.
This Is Wyatt, a four-year-old Astreos gelding co-owned by (trainer) Josh Green, Rovine (see Foreign Officer) and VIP Internet Stable, is now three-for-seven this season. The exacta paid $6.50, with the triple (three wagering favourites) returning $20.20.
Saturday night's final Levy event was won by Blatantly Good (Bartlett) in 1:53, his first flat-mile win of the season. Leaving from post No. 2, he took over from McCedes (Gingras) before giving up the baton to 3-5 choice River Shark (Brennan). He then edged past, beating River Shark by three-quarters of a length. Classic Rock Nroll (Dube) was a first-up third (at 56-1), with McCedes and Mr Massimo (Bouchard) also getting some cash.
Giddy Up Lucky (Goodell), making his first start of the season after winning his last 11 races of 2010, wound up an out-every-step seventh.
For Blatantly Good, a five-year-old son of Albert Albert trained by Don Campbell for owner Jeffrey Bamond, he returned $9.40 (second win in nine seasonal starts). The exacta paid $16, with the triple returning $124.50.
Saturday's card also featured six, $12,500 divisions in the second round of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series for three- and four-year-old colts and geldings.
The winners were:
- DVC Gifted Indeed, g, 4 (by Place To Be); owner Dino Lo Castro/trainer Lou Pena/driver Brennan; 1:55.2/$2.10;
- Starspangledpanner, g, 4 (by No Pan Intended); owner Michael Casalino Jr./trainer Chris Marino/driver Bartlett; 1:56.2/$3.40;
- Manip U Lator BB, g, 4 (by Mantacular); co-owners Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Barbara Schneider, Marc Silverman/trainer Burke/driver Gingras; 1:55.2/$2.30;
- Kid Cruiser, g, 4 (by Yankee Cruiser); owner Laura Baker/trainer Alagna/driver Pantaleano; 1:56.2/$10.40;
- Urgent Action, 4 (by Artsplace); owner Marvin Rounick/trainer Jerry Silverman/driver Bartlett; 1:54.1/$2.50;
- Andy Baran, g, 4 (by Rambarran); co-owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi/trainer Burke/driver Gingras; 1:56/$2.90
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)