Yonkers, NY – San Domino A’s United States debut went according to plan for trainer Andrew Harris. The Australian import started in a $17,500 overnight at Pocono Downs Aug. 17 and with George Napolitano Jr. in the sulky, tracked from fourth until the field reached the backstretch the final time.

Napolitano picked up cover nearing the final turn and San Domino A hit his best stride into a 1:21.4 three-quarter split set by Rebellious. Turning into the stretch, Napolitano kicked out the plugs and angled three-wide to glide past the pacesetter to score by a half-length in 1:49.1.

“He was pretty impressive,” Harris said. “He got a perfect drive, George ‘Nap’ did an awesome job, got him a second-over trip. When he tipped him, he really did have a nice turn of foot, so he did everything that he was supposed to do and he looked great doing it and he came out of the race great.”

By Somebeachsomewhere out of the Maple Lanes Strike mare Reggae Miss, San Domino A went 14-for-51 in Australia from February 2016 to May 2019. Although he failed to make an impression in nine tries in grouped stakes company, San Domino A earned $140,187 Australian and took a mark of 1:52.2 at Melton April 12, 2019.

San Domino A attracted the attention of Joe Pennacchio and Steve Oldford, who bought the 6-year-old gelding, imported him to the U.S., and sent him to Jenn Bongiorno. After one qualifier for that stable July 30, the owners transferred San Domino A to Harris.

After his sparkling debut at Pocono, Harris brought San Domino A to a $30,000 Yonkers overnight August 24. Starting from post three, Jason Bartlett put the gelding on the lead. Although he went gate-to-wire, he only won by a neck in 1:52.2 as Rodeo Rock appeared to give San Domino A all he could handle in the stretch.

Harris added a hood with eye cups and San Domino A responded well to them in training. He will start with the change of equipment in Saturday night’s (September 7) $46,000 Open Handicap Pace.

San Domino A will start from post five in his first local Open try, just outside of Theartofconfusion A, who established a new standard at Yonkers last week when he streaked through fractions of :26.2, :54.2, and 1:21.3 before kicking away in the stretch to win by 10 lengths in 1:49.3, logging the first sub-1:50 mile in the history of the Hilltop oval.

The six-pack of pacers in the Saturday co-feature also include last week’s Preferred Pace winner Mickey Gee N who will start from the outside for Lance Hudson, last week’s Open runner-up I’m Some Graduate, who will start from post two for George Brennan and Ron Burke, and The Real One, winner of the Open in two of his last five tries. Benhope Rulz N completes the lineup.

Saturday night’s card also features the weekly $46,000 Open Handicap Trot and the $37,000 4-Year-Old Open Handicap Pace.

Yonkers Raceway features live harness racing Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. First post time is 6:50 p.m.

For entries to the races, click here.