by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Odds-on favorite Fat Man’s Alley (Brian Sears, $2.70, part of entry) read the memo just in time Tuesday afternoon (May 24), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $70,500 final of the Jackpot Next Door Claiming Series.

The series featured base $20,000 claiming males in three preliminary legs leading to this final.

Tom Berg photo

Fat Man’s Alley rallied late to win in 1:52.3.

A gapping third early from post position No. 3, Fat Man’s Alley saw Bubbie Boy (George Brennan) stroll through sedate early fractions of :28 and :57.2. Bubbie Boy then threw down a :27.1 third quarter (1:24.3) right as Fat Man’s Alley was getting his work order. The leader had a 1-1/2 length advantage entering the lane, but the Fat Man Cometh.

He wore down Bubbie Boy mid-stretch, eventually beating him by that 1-1/2 length margin in 1:52.3. Innocent Victim (Dan Dube, winner’s entry mate) nosed out pocket-sitting Colonial Road (Scott Zeron) for third, with Can’t It Be Me (Jason Bartlett) getting the final pay envelope.

For Fat Man’s Alley, an 8-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding co-owned as Allard Racing by trainer Rene Allard and Jack and Ferne Frydman, it was his sixth win in 17 seasonal starts (career earnings of more than $734,000). The exacta paid $7.10, with the triple returning $20.

A $30,000 series consolation was won by So Good I’m Bad (Eric Abbatiello, $10.40) in 1:53.2.