Driver Scott Zeron, who has made himself right at home on both sides of the river since crossing the border, won his 3,000th career race Thursday night at Yonkers Raceway.
The plateau win came escorting Rock Absorber ($7) up the passing lane in the $14,000, third-race pace (1:54.2).
The affable 27-year-old Zeron, a native of Montreal whose career began in 2007, is approaching $49 million in career purses. He is, of course, ‘enjoying the ride’ with Hambletonian and Yonkers Trot winner Marion Marauder, the early favourite in Saturday night’s Canadian Trotting Classic.
“I really just appreciate everyone who’s shown confidence in me,” Zeron said. “It’s amazing what Marion Marauder has done for my career. Harness people from all over the world know all about those two races (Hambletonian and Yonkers Trot), and to say that I’ve won them both is such an honour.”
The final downstate New York Sire Stakes leg of the season was also contested Thursday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $146,823 Jim Crawford Pace for two-year-old colts/geldings.
Three, $48,941 divisions comprised the event.
The opening group had division leader Miso Fast (Matt Kakaley, $4.80) winning as he pleased. From post position No. 4, he had an open lead around the oval (:28.4, :58.3, 1:27.3, 1:55.3).
Pole-sitting, 11-10 favourite Rock The Boat (Jordan Stratton) saved second from the loosest of pockets—beaten fourth lengths—with Goose Mountain (Dan Dube) third.
Miso Fast, a Roll with Joe colt co-owned (as Burke Racing Stable LLC) by (trainer) Ron Burke and Our Horse Cents and J&T Silva Stables, it was his fifth win in seven seasonal starts.
Thursday night’s second sire stakes event was a beat down administered by 1-4 choice Funknwaffles (Jim Morrill, Jr., $2.50). Starting outside his five rivals, he was keen early, away third and just about running up the back of Scott Zeron (driving Serious Major).
After Whats Goin On (Mark MacDonald) carried the early (:27.2) water, Funknwaffles took over and did so effortlessly (:54.4, 1:23.4, 1:54.3). From six lengths at the half, the final margin (over Whats Goin On) was 5-3/4 lengths. Twin B Cowboy (George Brennan) was third.
Funknwaffles, an American Ideal gelding co-owned by Crawford Farms Racing & Susan Oakes and trained by John Butenschoen, he’s now 7-for-8 this season.
The evening’s final statebred jaunt was another waltz around Westchester, this one by 1-5 choice Pointomygranson (Marcus Miller, $2.40)
In play from post No. 3, he completed his compulsories without incident (:28.3, :57.4, 1:26.4, 1:54.4). The margin here was ‘only’ 2-3/4 lengths, with Chip Walther (Brent Holland) second and Willie Joe Hill (Pat Lachance) third.
Pointomygranson, an American Ideal gelding owned by Gold Standard Equine and trained by Chris Ryder, it was his third win in eight ’16 tries.
Saturday, Sept. 24th, the Raceway is home to the $1.8 million New York Night of Champions, richest night of racing in the state. Eight, $225,000 sire stakes finals—for two- and three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits—go postward.
(Yonkers Raceway)