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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway on Saturday night hosted a pair of $40,000 eliminations for the Art Rooney Pace. All told, a dozen 3-year-old pacers — nine colts and three geldings — tried to wedge their way into next Saturday night’s $275,000 final.

Here’s the sanctioned summary.

Source Of Pride was a 1:53.2 winner for driver David Miller.

First elim: New York Sire Stakes champion Doctor Butch (Tim Tetrick), the lone $30,000 supplemental entrant into this event, was put in play early from post position No. 4. He stepped around pole-squatting Source Of Pride (David Miller) well before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile.

After a :56.2 half, Bet The Moon (George Brennan) took out of fourth, engaging the 2-5 favorite toward the 1:25 three-quarters, while second-choice Mach It So (Brian Sears) was conducting his business from second-over.

Doctor Butch gruelingly disposed of Bet The Moon, taking a length lead into the lane, However, he first start of the season was not going to be his first win of the season. It was Source Of Pride going in and going by in 1:53.2. The margin was 1-1/4 lengths over Mach It So, with Doctor Butch fading to third and Bet The Moon fourth.

That quartet earned berths into the final.

Source Of Pride, a son of American Ideal trained by Jimmy Takter for co-owners (breeder) Brittany Farms, Louie Camara, Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz, returned $11.40 (third choice) for his third win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $39.80, with the triple (three wagering choices in descending order) returning $89.

Mike Lizzi photos

Sir Cary’s Z Tam won his elimination in a time of 1:54.1.

Second elim: They left Sir Cary’s Zam (Pat Lachance) to his own devices from post No. 3 and he made ’em pay.

Taking over from Good Day Mate (Jason Bartlett) right at the :28 opening quarter, the 7-5 choice was able to rate a :30 next interval (:58 half), which effectively ended much of the suspense. A funky-gaited Sunfire Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras) pressed the issue down the backside, but was dismissed soon after the 1:25.4 three-quarters.

Sir Cary’s Z Tam had a couple of lengths in and out of the final turn, then held off a flying-from-last Lonewolf Currier (Sears) by a head in 1:54.1. Good Day Mate and Sunfire Blue Chip were third and fourth, respectively, securing their seats for the final.

Sir Cary’s Z Tam, a statebred son of Bettor’s Delight co-owned (and trained) by his driver, along with M& M Harness Racing and Ira Rosenblum, returned $4.90 for his second consecutive win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $12.20, with the triple returning $79.

Next Saturday night also includes the $117,060 Lismore Pace for 3-year-old fillies. Both stakes draws take place Tuesday afternoon.

Saturday night’s $46,000 Open Handicap Pace was won by all-age track record holder Sapphire City (Bartlett, $23.60) in a down-the-road 1:50.4, fastest local mile of the season and matching the all-age standard (Electric Oui) for older geldings. Foiled Again (Gingras) demanded a rare mulligan after a never-in-it sixth as the 4-5 choice.