Sophomore trotters in NYSS spotlight at Yonkers

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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway hosted the $356,456 New York Sire Stakes Dick McGuire Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings on Monday (July 1).

The opening $89,914 division wound up with an unintended makeover when 7-10 choice Tirade Hanover (Victor Kirby) jumped it off right before the start. A few others did the dance of the damned, leaving a match race between Blackwolf Run (Sam Schillaci) and Order By Keeper (Brian Sears).

Mike Lizzi photo

E L Rocket won the fastest division in a time of 1:55.1.

Cozy-enough fractions (:29, :59.1, 1:28.4) weren’t enough to close the sale, as pocket-sitting, pole protector Order By Keeper strolled on by. The final margin was 1-3/4 lengths in 1:58.2. Third went to 71-1 shot Tweed (Jim Morrill, Jr.).

Order By Keeper, a Credit Winner colt trained by Nancy Johansson for co-owners Christina Takter, John Fielding, Joyce McClelland and Order By Stable, returned $9 (third choice) for his third win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $32.20, with the triple returning $387.50.

The second $88,314 grouping saw Kegler Hanover (Sears, $7.20) keep his head when everyone else around him was not.

Pocketed early from post position No. 4, he inherited the lead when 11-10 fave West Side Story (George Brennan) imploded on the lead right before the :30 opening quarter-mile.

From there, Kegler Hanover, as the second choice, widened at each interval (58.3; 1:27.3), taking a 16 length lead into the lane. The margin at the wire was 12-1/2 lengths in a snappy 1:56.4. Explosive Action (Jason Bartlett) was second, with Wannacmyguns (John Stark, Jr.) third. Those were the only non-misbehavers among the seven starters.

Kegler Hanover, a son of Crazed also trained by Johansson — this one for co-owners Takter, Order By Stable, Brixton Medical and Louis Carrera — is now 2-for-7 this season. The exacta paid $72.50, with the triple returning $394.

Monday’s third $88,314 statebred event saw the chalk players gain a measure of revenge when E L Rocket (Brennan, $2.90) gave nobody else a chance.

Sent to the lead from post No. 3, he threw down fractions of :27.1, :56.2, 1:25.4 and (night’s fastest) 1:55.1. Crazy About Pat (Cat Manzi) grabbed second over Modest Prince (Jeff Gregory).

E L Rocket, a son of Credit Winner co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, M1 Stable, Howard Taylor and Phillip Collura, is now 4-for-8 this season after a third consecutive victory. The exacta paid $6.80, with the triple (three wagering choices in order) returning $10.60.

Pari-mutuel chaos reigned in the final $89,914 sire stakes event after 1-20 people’s preference Jurgen Hanover (Brennan) broke in the first turn and wound up distanced.

Jacks To Open (Sears) grabbed the gauntlet from the eight hole, with pylon-starting Theraputic (Morrill Jr.) in behind (:29, :59.1, 1:28.1). Jacks To Open opened a 1-1/2 length lead entering the lane, but Theraputic dove inside and edged by. The margin was a neck in a life-best 1:58, with 98-1 bomber Bar Back (Brent Holland) third and Twisted Pretzel (Jordan Stratton) fourth.

Theraputic, a Crazed gelding trained by Annette Lorentzon for Acl Stuteri Ab, returned $21.60 for his third win in six seasonal starts. The exacta (second and third wagering choices) paid $173, the triple returned $2,109 and the superfecta paid $7,609.

With $14,027 of the $14,877 in the show pool flushed overboard with Jurgen Hanover, the show prices for the three board finishers were $30, $47.40 and $264, respectively ($30 total wagered on Bar Back in that pool).

Note that all winners, save for E L Rocket, are Yonkers Trot eligible.

Monday’s 50-cent Pick-5, complete with a $10,000 (Monday/Tuesday) guarantee, handled $14,043.

Sire stakes actions continues Tuesday night, with the $353,256 Art Watson Pace for 3-year-old fillies, while Friday night offers the $291,475 Armand Palatucci Pace (3-year-old colts/geldings).

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