by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Twenty-three of the state’s rookie crop of colts and geldings skidooed their way downstate Tuesday night (Aug. 25) for Yonkers Raceway’s $185,122 New York Sire Stakes Jim Meagher Pace.

He’s Gorgeous (Jason Bartlett), as the 1-4 favorite, overcame the eight hole in the first ($62,074) division. After tucking in fifth, he moved approaching the half, only to be forced three-wide by a late pull from a rival. No matter. The people’s preference made the lead just after intermission, then was never seriously threatened. He threw in a :27.4 kicker, widening to 3-3/4 lengths at the wire in 1:55. Gone Baby Gone (Jordan Stratton) chased in vain from the pocket, with Forty Carrots (Jim Bailey) third.

“He may be a 2-year-old, but he doesn’t act like one,” Bartlett said, “He’s a two-finger horse to drive and he was very good tonight.”

He’s Gorgeous, an Art Major colt trained by Linda Toscano for owner Ken Jacobs, returned $2.50 for his fifth victory — second consecutive — in seven rookie starts ($81,088). The exacta paid $9.60, the triple returned $27.40 and the superfecta paid $65.50.

The second ($60,974) Meagher mélange saw odds-on Bettor Again (Stephane Bouchard) grind his way to glory. Away fourth in a paceless race (:59 half) from post position No. 4, he methodically marched up toward the lead. Bettor Again took over in mid-stretch, defeating Bullish Blue Chip (Jeff Gregory) by a measured three-quarters of a length in 1:57.2. Shinedupnreadytogo (Cat Manzi) was another three lengths back in third.

Bettor Again, a son of Bettor’s Delight owned by Patricia Stable and trained by Noel Daley, paid $2.20 for his second win in four ’09 tries ($59,350). The exacta paid $10.60, with the triple returning $57.

“I won with him off the pace (at Tioga), so I wasn’t too worried,” Bouchard said. “I wanted to be careful around the first turn here, but I raced him like he was the best (tonight), and he was.”

Whiskey Pete (trainer/driver Gates Brunet) broke his maiden with a 19-1 upset in the final ($62,074) statebred event. The race saw 3-5 fave Bluff Point (Greg Grismore) misbehave behind the gate and two others do the same later. Meanwhile, Whiskey Pete was sitting third from post No. 3. He went up and over Speculative Edge (Bouchard) in and out of the final turn. Whiskey Pete then held off pocket-sitting Park Lane Midnight (Manzi) by a length in 1:58, with Speculative Edge third.

Whiskey Pete, co-owned by Ted Gewertz, Deborah Brunet and Sam Dotro, paid $40.60 (fifth choice) for that first win in eight first-season starts ($54,984). The exacta paid $231, the triple returned $412.50 and the superfecta paid $5,514.

“He’s actually a lot easier to drive than (2-year-old track record holder) Hay Goodlooking, but I wouldn’t put him in that class,” Brunet said. “I sent him down (from Vernon) yesterday, and he seemed much fresher. I didn’t think that horse on the lead could cut the mile and win, so I went after him and it worked out.”

Tuesday evening’s sire stakes races honored the memory of Yonkers’ long-time corporate controller.