by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Patience is indeed a virtue. Just ask Steve Smith.

Smith was plenty patient while sitting behind Saratoga John in Saturday night’s (Feb. 24) $46,500 final of the Hopeful Pacing Series for 3-year-old colts and geldings, Yonkers Raceway’s richest race of the season to date.

Bisesi Photo

Saratoga John (#3) and driver Steve Smith closed deep in the passing lane to win Saturday night’s $46,500 final of the Hopeful Pacing Series for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Saratoga John, the 9-5 second choice among the field of seven (Real Yankee was a judges’ scratch), inherited post position two at the outset. Smith didn’t seem to care about moving inside one slot, while 6-5 favorite Foiled Again (Jack Baggitt, Jr.) had designs on leaving.

Foiled Again, alert early from post four, stepped around the inside number, Artomatic Pilot (Jeff Gregory), and gained the lead before the :29.1 opening quarter-mile.

An easy 60 second intermission was next, leaving the people’s choice in seemingly good standings. Smith, however, decided not to press the issue, sitting in with Saratoga John while Rose Street Blush (Jim Pantaleano) came first-over.

That challenge prompted Foiled Again into a :28.1 third quarter, but he widened to a 2-1/4 length lead turning for home. Artomatic Pilot tried to gain from the pocket, but to no avail. However, Saratoga John was looking deep in the passing lane for his best stride – which he found.

“John” zipped by Foiled Again late, winning by a neck in a season’s best 1:57. Artomatic Pilot was third, beaten 2-3/4 lengths, while Dragon Master (Stephane Bouchard) and Incredibley Rich (Eric Goodell) grabbed the minor moolah. Rose Street Blues and a never-involed Reverse The Curse (Pat Berry) rounded out the roster.

For Saratoga John, a Richess Hanover gelding, the victory was his second (consecutive) in five seasonal starts. Buzzy Sholty trains for co-owners Joseph Costa and Joseph Desapio. Saratoga John paid $5.60, leading a $13.80 exacta and $60.50 triple.

“When you drive against Jack (Baggitt) every day at Freehold like I do, you know you’re going to get carried to mid-stretch,” Smith said. “My horse seems to be much better when I don’t have to use him early. He was very good last week (in the final preliminary leg) and I never even asked him. Tonight, when the horse who carrried into the race last week (Real Yankee) was scratched, I figured my best chance was to sit.”

And be patient.

The $23,250 winner’s share pushed the career cash of Saratoga John to a bit less than $63,000.

The $20,000 Hopeful Consolation was taken by even money ($4.30) favorite Panedict Arnold and driver Greg Grismore in 1:56.4.

Saturday night’s $35,000 Open Pace saw Rair Earth (Gregory) cross the river and grab a two hole victory.

The ultra-consistent 10-year-old Keytsone Raider gelding – with more than $1.3 million on his dance card – prevailed in 1:54.4, defeating Super Eighty Eight (Bouchard) by 1-1/4 lengths. Pacific Playboy (Jim Taggart, Jr.), part of last week’s dead-heat duo, was third.

Owned by Brian Nixon and trained by Ross Croghan, Rair Earth’s third win in seven ’07 tries was worth $7.60 to his fans. The exacta returned $34.80, with the triple good for $120.50.

Live racing is currently offered at Yonkers with six programs per week – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:40 p.m., along with a Tuesday matinee at 1:00 p.m.

The ’07 stakes schedule continues Monday and Tuesday, with finals in all five divisions of the Empire City Non-Claming Series.

Harness and thoroughbred simulcasting is available seven days a week, while Empire City’s nearly 4,200 video gaming machines are in play daily from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.