Warrawee Roo wins Harry Harvey Invitational Trot
October 13, 2018,by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Had Warrawee Roo won the Dayton Trotting Derby, he may well have earned an invite to the International Trot.
He ran out of racetrack in Ohio. He had no such issues in Westchester.
Out early from the pole position, Warrawee Roo (Dan Dube, $10.60) rolled from second-over Saturday afternoon (Oct. 13), winning Yonkers’ $250,000, 1-1/4 mile Harry Harvey Invitational Trot.
USTA/Mark Hall photo
Warrawee Roo rolled from second-over to win the $250,000 Harry Harvey Invitational Trot.
In Secret (George Brennan) made the first lead, giving up the baton to 31-1 Gruden (Tim Tetrick) right after a :28.1 opening quarter-mile. At the back of the 10-horse bus were misbehavers Guardian Angel AS (Matt Kakaley) and Sortie (Trond Smedshammer).
Gruden continued through a 57-second half and 1:27 three-quarters, with Yes Mickey (Jason Bartlett) plugging away first-over. Warrawee Roo was behind that one, with 11-10 favorite Homicide Hunter (Brian Sears) third-over, the World’s Fastest Trotter having started in the second tier.
Warrawee Roo then went wide at 1:56 mile marker, hooking Gruden soon after. Top Flight Angel (Andy Miller), the 2017 Yonkers Trot winner, had extricated himself from the cones and wound up behind Warrawee Roo.
Warrawee Roo disposed of Gruden, then held sway, defeating Top Flight Angel by three-quarters of a length in 2:25.2 for the added distance. Gruden held third, with the lass N F Happenstance (Jack Parker Jr.) and Yes Mickey settling for the minors.
A never-firing Homicide Hunter, In Secret, DW’s NY Yank (Yannick Gingras), Guardian Angel AS and Sortie rounded out the order.
For third choice Warrawee Roo, a 5-year-old son of Majestic Son owned by Determination and trained by Luc Blais, it was his fourth win in 18 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $137.50, the triple returned $1,943 and the superfecta paid $10,205 (base $2 payout, 10-cent ticket paid $510.25).
“He’s in career shape now,” Dube said. “ I just wanted to make sure to get him out. He doesn’t know where the end of the race is. He won easy today.”
This race began the all-stakes Belmont Yonkers Pick-4, which included the International Trot and Belmont’s Floral Park and Pebbles. There was an issue regarding the closing of wagering for this gimmick, which resulted in all wagers being refunded and the winning combination (1/6/5/2) being paid ($1,250.75 for each correct 50-cent ticket).
The pool was listed at $12,409.
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