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

Yonkers, NY — Elimination winners In The Arsenal (Eric Goodell, post two) and Cartoon Daddy (George Brennan, post five) lead eight 2-year-old colts into Saturday night’s (July 19) $125,000 final of Yonkers Raceway’s Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace.

In The Arsenal won the first of last weekend’s two $25,000 elims in a maiden-breaking 1:56.2. The White Birch Farm homebred son of American Ideal-Ladyotra, caught three-wide early, nonetheless strode out by 2-3/4 lengths.

“(The Sheppard) was always on our schedule,” trainer Kelvin Harrison said. “He’s a smallish horse, and we thought the half-mile track would suit him.”

Cartoon Daddy was a tick faster in his elimination, prevailing in 1:56.1. The $60,000 son of Art Major-Ask Alice, co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke and Joe DiScala Jr., hit town after a New York Sire Stakes win at Buffalo.

“He was looking around (in his elimination), the way 2-year-olds tend to, but once I pulled the plugs, he was all business,” Brennan said.

The Sheppard goes as the fifth race (approximate post 8:50 p.m.) on the 12-race card.

After the open draws, the roster is: 1-Rock N’ Roll World (Pat Lachance), 2-In The Arsenal (Eric Goodell), 3- Perfect Bet (Jeff Dauplaise), 4-Mystical Pacer (Brent Holland), 5-Cartoon Daddy (George Brennan), 6-Parklane Eagle (Jordan Stratton), 7-Lone Survivor (Brian Sears), 8-Byby Landon (Jason Bartlett).