Yonkers, NY — Sea Venture (George Brennan, five winners on the dozen-race card) was on his game from off-the-pace Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $36,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Tom Berg photo

Sea Venture came from off the pace to win Saturday’s Open Handicap at Yonkers Raceway.

Unhurried early from post position No. 6, he watched as Flipper J (Cat Manzi) brushed to the lead around Code Word (Jason Bartlett) right at the :27.1 opening quarter-mile. From there, he tried to hide, with a 54.4 half and 1:22.3 three-quarters.

Company was coming down the backside, as Bettor’s Reward (Mark MacDonald) went past a stopping Code Word. Versado (Jim Pantaleano)–the 6-5 choice who had tried to leave the gate–was behind that one. Versado appeared to skip for a stride, before eventually going wide. Meanwhile, a third-over Sea Venture angled inside for the drive.

Flipper J owned a length-and-a-half lead into the lane, but was tiring. Sea Venture continued his rally, winning by a half-length in 1:51.3. Versado was a solid second after an eventful trip, with Flipper J, Nob Hill High (Jordan Stratton) and Sand Benelli (Larry Stalbaum) rounded out the payees.

For Sea Venture, a 4-year-old Western Terror gelding co-owned by (trainer) Lou Pena and Racing Team of America, he returned $8.40 (third choice) for his fifth win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $22, with the triple returning $51.50.

— Frank Drucker

Tioga Downs
Lewayne Miller and The Evictor made it a repeat performance in Saturday night’s $16,500 Open Trot at Tioga Downs. Although dismissed by the betting public after drawing post position nine, Miller left alertly and got an early seat in the action through an opening quarter of 28. The duo then chose to stalk from third as the battle raged for control of the lead. A fresh face to the Tioga Downs Open Trot, Magnum Kosmos took the field through fractions of 56.2, and 1:25.1 with race favorite Aruba Vacation stalking closely in second. As the field headed down the stretch it was a three horse battle to the wire. Lewayne Miller and The Evictor went to the outside, while Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet Jr.) found room up the pylons as they both desperately tried to reach Magnum Kosmos. As the field reached the wire, it was The Evictor who nosed out Magnum Kosmos in 1:55.1. John Butenschoen trains the 4-year-old son of Valley Victor – Expressive Chip for William Wiswell and Jean Goehlen.

The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
With the presence of Florida standout 3-year-old pacer Keemosabe in the field a big upset transpired in the Saturday evening, May 19 feature for a $7,500 purse at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. Northern Companion, in rein to Robert Hoffman, used his customary closing rush to sweep to victory at 14-1. Keemosabe, in rein to Bruce Ranger, seized command over Waldy Jimmy in rein to Dan Clements and Red Star Paylater with Walter Ross Jr. in tow after the quarter in 27.1. With the track rated sloppy from continuing rain over most of the past two days at the South Florida venue, Keemosabe posted middle fractions of 56 seconds and 1:24.3. By mid-stretch, Keemosabe was vulnerable to the onslaught of older rivals coming after him. Northern Companion started a three-wide brush early on the final turn and was best of all coming to the wire to stop the clock in 1:52.4. Waldy Jimmy was back out to save second and Red Star Paylater overtook Keemosabe for third. Northern Companion returned $30.40 on the win ticket, even though he’s won 7 of 15 starts this year. Howard Klohr conditions the versatile 4-year-old pacer by Cambest from Smoke It Out for owner Dorothy Zarza of Lake Worth, FL

Scioto Downs
Doc’s Yankee left the gate fastest of all, yielded the lead to Look Yankee in the second quarter, then shot up the inside to win the featured pace at Scioto Downs on Saturday night. It was the second straight win at Scioto for Doc’s Yankee, who is owned by Gerald Denney of Gallipolis, Ohio. Odds-on favorite Doc’s Yankee was in front after the first panel was covered in :26.2 but then Devan Miller roared up on the outside with her 5-year-old Look Yankee. Driver Chris Page yielded to Miller and took the pocket trip behind the 12-1 shot. Cmon Blaze and trainer-driver Ray Paver challenged Look Yankee but wasn’t able to collar Miller and her pacer as Doc’s Yankee sat in the pocket. Once in the stretch, Page ducked his pacer to the inside and Doc’s Yankee responded willingly by pacing past Look Yankee to win by a half-length in 1:52.1.Cmon Blaze held for third place. Doc’s Yankee paid $3.40 to win. Hangon Cowboy posted the fastest mile of the season at Scioto when the gelded son of Rustler Hanover ran off and left his pursuers in the dust with a 1:51.2 effort. Jeff Nisonger piloted the 5-year-old for trainer Mike Medors, who co-owns Hangon Cowboy with Jerry Sommers. It was the first win in two tries this season or Hangon Cowboy. He hit the wire more than 10 lengths ahead of the field.

Cal-Expo
Conditioned pacers, racing for a purse of $5,000, were co-featured at Cal Expo on Saturday night (May 19) in the Dennis Giles Memorial, on which Doc’s Zilla made every call a winning one. Holding tough, the 4-year-old won ($17.80) by three-quarters of one-length. Owned by Toman Enterprises LTD and trained by Earl Kennedy, the gelding stopped the timer at 1:54.1, establishing a seasonal mark. Hi Fidelity (Scott Cisco) finished in second, and Strikes N Charges finished another three-quarters of one-length farther back, in third.

Rosecroft Raceway
Tony Morgan, winner of 14,063 races lifetime drove Boo Frickity Hoo in the featured fifth race and had no anxious moments after reaching the top near the quarter. The final time of 1:55 was only 2/5 off his lifetime mark. Charlene Sharpe conditions the winner for her husband Chris Sharpe. Not to be overlooked would be driver William Carter recording a driving double on the night, with Openinacan in the first race and then scoring with DVC Gotta Believe, who he owns, trains and reined. Veteran driver Earnest Taylor won the night cap via a perfect drive and trip to score that one’s first win of the season in 1:58.1. And last, but most certainly not least long-time Rosecroft regular’s owner-trainer Jan Nofsinger and driver Bill Long won the sixth race with Swanky whose 1:59.3 score took three seconds of her lifetime mark.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Pan From Nantucket moved his local record to two-for-two on a warm Saturday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The Jose Godinez trained open pacer prevailed in the $18,500 feature and did so in style. Bruce Aldrich Jr was in the sulky as the 4-year-old son of No Pan Intended left quickly but despite mixing it up in an opening quarter of :26.2, had something left for the stretch drive. Pan From Nantucket sat the pocket and pounced in the lane to record the 1:51.4 victory, the fastest win time of the 2012 season thus far at Saratoga and a career best for the Godinez trainee. The race favorite GD Airliner (Stephane Bouchard) came on late to finish a distant second while longshot Flexjet (Dan Cappello Jr) held third. Aldrich piloted four winners on the night.