by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — He came. He saw. He conquered. Thrice.
Mike Lizzi photo
Stonedust was one of three winners on Monday for driver Billy Dobson.
Driver Billy Dobson celebrated Abe Lincoln’s 209th birthday Monday night (Feb. 12) with an honest-to-goodness memorable Yonkers Raceway performance. The Saratoga standout came downstate for three drives, resulting in three off-the-pace wins — even if one was behind a trotter.
Said trotter was Western Credit ($14.60), who reeled in a stubborn favorite Aruba Vacation late in the $7,500 second race. The margin was a neck in 1:58.1.
Next was a last-to-first Stonedust ($41.60), overcoming the eight-hole in the $10,000 third race pace (1:56.2). The 4-year-old Sagebrush gelding was making just a seventh career start.
Dobson’s three bagger was completed in the $17,000 seventh race pace, pouncing after a contested battle to prevail with Gussy’s Dragon ($10.20) in 1:55.3. The winner held off 8-5 choice Queen Josephine by a scant nose.
Donald Billings trained Western Credit, who turned out to be a one start rent-a-trotter, while Monica Krist trained both Stonedust and Gussy’s Dragon.