by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s premier open event for 2-year-olds colts and geldings, the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace, offered a trio of $25,000 elimination races Saturday night (July 8). The first and third elims were prim and proper, but the middle one was dynamite.
Ottawa invader Kwik Talkin’ (Jordan Stratton, $3.40) proved he was kwik walkin’ as well. From post position two, he prevailed in a mile with much movement, whipping a stubborn Springsteen (Chris Ryder) by a length in a snappy 1:54.4. Phat Blue Chip was third, beaten 4-1/2 lengths.
Those two, plus pole-sitting Phat Blue Chip (Jason Bartlett), mixed it up two- and three-wide through intervals of :27.4, 57.4 and 1:27.1. It was Springsteen getting first ‘run,’ ripping out of a three-hole and leading into the lane. He could not stall the winner, now 3-for-3 in his career after cutting his teeth at Rideau Carleton.
For Kwik Talkin’, a son of Well Said-Kwik Dial and an $18,000 Standardbred Horse Sale purchase, who is trained by Rob Harmon for Ontario co-owners Robert Robinson, Jacqueline Dinelle and Scott & Lisa Henry, the mile was a life-best effort. The exact paid $17.20, with the triple returning $31.80.
“Nice horse,” Stratton said. “Hopefully, we draw well in the final.”
Harmon offered a bit more insight.
“The owners called and asked if I’d take the horse,” he said. “I didn’t know anything about him. I trained him here (Yonkers) last Friday in 1:58 and he was getting around the track well. I just added a line pole outside, since he’s sort of green and doesn’t know a whole lot.”
Another example of why ignorance is bliss.
Those three freshman are to be joined in next week’s $110,500 finale of the Sheppard by the other elimination winners—maiden-breakers Persist Blue Chip (George Brennan, $10.20) in 1:58.3 and Trump Nation (catch-driver Eric Goodell, $23.40) in 1:57.1—as well as second-place finishers Damion Diesel Hahn (Ray Schnitttker) and Hora Star (Brennan) and Real Rayenbow (Jason Bartlett).
Real Rayenbow cut the mile as the 13-10 fave in the final elim before fading to third.
Persist Blue Chip, a $57,000 Standardbred Horse Sale purchase, is a Roll With Joe-Real Reflection colt, while Trump Nation, a son of Betterthancheddar-Late Flyin N did not sell at auction.
The Sheppard is, of course, named for the man behind breeding behemoth Hanover Shoe Farms. The open draw takes place Monday afternoon (July 10),
Saturday night’s pair of $55,000 Open Handicaps were annexed by:
–(Pace) Somewhere in L A (Bartlett, $4.70) in 1:51, matching fastest local mile of season;
–(Trot) Homicide Hunter (Brian Sears, $10) in 1:55.4.
Special Saturday props to Brennan for his five-win night, including the first four races during the dozen-race card.
New York Sire Stakes hit town for the first time this season Monday night, with the $169,500 Hugh Grant Pace for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
- Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace attracts 20 freshman gentlemen (Monday, July 03, 2017)
Yonkers Raceway’s premier freshmen-fest, the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace, attracted 20 plebes for the 2017 edition. Thus, there are a trio of, $25,000 elimination races this Saturday night (July 8), with the first two finishers in each—plus the two fastest third-place finishers—returning for the $110,500 finale a week from Saturday night.
- Meadowlands and Yonkers to host Grand Circuit action this weekend (Wednesday, July 05, 2017)
Grand Circuit races will be contested this Friday and Saturday at the Meadowlands, and on Saturday at Yonkers.
- VIP Stable bargain purchases to take on Sheppard Pace (Thursday, July 06, 2017)
When VIP Stable starts a pair of 2-year-olds in Saturday’s Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace eliminations at Yonkers Raceway, it will put its zig-zagging tactics to the test again. Phat Blue Chip and Paprike Blue Chip cost just $9,000 and $7,000 at auction last year, respectively, but are already proving to be valuable additions to VIP’s roster.
- Kwik Talkin gives owner Robinson a chance to shine (Friday, July 14, 2017)
Ontario-based horseman Robert Robinson is no stranger to working with talented horses. Every year, he breaks and trains quality 2-year-olds before shipping them out to trainers who will campaign and race them. Among his former pupils are Gerries Sport, a multiple Ontario Sire Stakes winner. His Kwik Talkin is the 2-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $110,500 Sheppard Pace final at Yonkers Raceway.