George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series underway
March 18, 2018,by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Saturday night (March 17) offered a quintet of $50,000 divisions of Free-for-Allers in the opening round of Yonkers Raceway’s George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.
First Division—From post position two, season-debuting Mach It So (Tim Tetrick, $4) threw down an early series gauntlet, retaking from Chumlee A (Larry Stalbaum) en route to a handy (:28.2, :57.3, 1:25.3, 1:53.3) win. Chumlee A chased, beaten 1-3/4 lengths, with pole-sitting Bettor Memories (Kyle Husted) a three-hole third.
Dr. J Hanover sails to victory in his division of the Levy at Yonkers Raceway.
For Mach It So, an 8-year-old Mach Tree gelding owned by Bamond Racing trained by Jeffrey Bamond Jr., it was a 41st career victory as he nears $2.5 million in career earnings. The exacta (two wagering favorites) paid $11, with triple returning $52.50.
Second Division—It was first-up from and first home for Always At My Place (George Brennan, $12.60). From post two, he engaged last season’s series winner, Keystone Velocity (Dan Dube) after that one’s intervals of :27.2; :56.4 and 1:24.3.
Always at My Place forged by late, beating a pylon-skimming Mister Daytona N (Jordan Stratton) by a head in 1:54. Christen Me N (Tetrick), angling from the pocket as Keystone Velocity tired, was third, beaten a neck.
As for 3-2 choice Waikiki Beach A (Scott Zeron), his local debut was dreadful. Never involved, he finished seventh (last), beaten nearly 14 lengths.
For third choice Always at My Place, a 7-year-old Always a Virgin gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Phil Collura, he, too, made a successful 2018 bow. The exacta paid $73.50, with the triple returning $185.50.
Third Division—Polester Dr. J Hanover (Brett Miller, $6.30) took one step forward and the rest of the field deferred. The result (:28.2, :58.1, 1:26.4, 1:55) was a nary more than a public workout. Dr. J Hanover won by 1-1/4 lengths, with Somewhere In L A (Jason Bartlett) a first-up second and 19-10 fave All Bets Off (catch-driver Yannick Gingras) a loose-pocket third.
For second choice Dr. J Hanover, a 5-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding co-owned by Brad Grant, Robert Leblanc, Steven Wienick & Irwin Samelman and trained by Tony Alagna, it was his first win in a pair of seasonal starts. The exacta paid $24.20, with the triple returning $50.50.
Fourth Division—Odds-on Rockin’ Ron (Gingras, $2.90)—from post four—rebounded from a poor effort in his final pre-series overnight event and went the distance (:27.1 :56.4, 1:24.3, 1:53). Evenin’ of Pleasure (Joe Bongiorno) chased the winner in a good try, beaten three-quarters of a length. Western Dynasty (Bartlett) sat a three-hole and picked off the rest.
For Rockin’ Ron, a 6-year-old Real Desire co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, RTC and J&T Silva Stables, it was his first win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $18.80, with the triple returning $56.50.
Fifth Division—Bit Of A Legend N (Stratton, $21.60) seemed to be minding his own affairs in his 2018 purse debut, when things worked out quite well for him. From post three, the 2016 Levy champ worked out a second-over trip behind 1-2 fave Missile J (Tetrick). He then rolled over his tow, winning by a neck in 1:53.3. Long Live Rock (Dube) rallied for third.
Great Vintage (Gingras), after fractions of :26.3; :56.4; 1:25, led to the lane before fading to fifth.
For fourth choice Bit Of A Legend N, a 9-year-old Down Under son of Bettor’s Delight owned by Von Knoblauch Stable and trained by Peter Tritton, it was his 42nd career win (earnings $1.93 million). The exacta paid $52, with the triple returning $279.50.
Sunday racing is back tomorrow (March 18), with first post at 11:45 a.m.
- Opening rounds drawn for Levy and Matchmaker at Yonkers Raceway (Monday, March 12, 2018)
Friday night’s (March 16th) opening round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker saw four consecutively-carded (races 7 through 10) divisions, each worth $40,000. Conveniently, 32 high-end lasses were parsed into the quarter of eight-horse fields. Saturday evening’s (March 17th) beginning of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series goes with five, $50,000 Free-For-All divisions (races 4 through 7 and 11). Each race was neatly filled with a seven-horse field. Mike Lizzi photo.
- Stratton ready for Yonkers series action (Wednesday, March 14, 2018)
Jordan Stratton is no stranger to success in the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy Memorial pacing series at Yonkers Raceway and the 30-year-old driver will have two past champions among his hopefuls when those events get underway this week at Yonkers Raceway. First up is the Matchmaker, which begins Friday (March 16). Stratton’s drives in the series for older female pacers will include Australian-bred defending champion Mackenzie. On Saturday (March 17) in the Levy, for older male pacers, Stratton’s drives include New Zealand-bred 2016 winner Bit Of A Legend.
- 2018 Grand Circuit season opens this weekend (Wednesday, March 14, 2018)
The Grand Circuit at Yonkers features four $40,000 divisions on Friday (March 16) in the first round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Saturday (March 17) card at Yonkers will see five $50,000 divisions in the opening round of the George Morton Levy series for open pacers.
- Evenin Of Pleasure sharper for second leg of Levy series (Saturday, March 24, 2018)
After finishing second to Rockin Ron in leg one of the George Morton Levy Pacing Series in his seasonal debut March 17, trainer Jenn Bongiorno is expecting Evenin Of Pleasure to be even sharper in week two of the series. The 8-year-old will start from post three in the eighth race Saturday (March 24), in the second of four divisions of the Levy series on the 12-race program.
- Dr J Hanover, Rockin’ Ron double up in second round of Levy Series (Sunday, March 25, 2018)
Yonkers Raceway Saturday night (March 24) offered the second round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series. A quartet of $50,000 events again brought together many of the marquee Free-For-Allers. The result was three, down-the-road winners, including two series repeaters in Dr J Hanover and Rockin’ Ron. Evenin’ Of Pleasure and Western Fame were the other winners.