by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Ten 3-year-old guys—six colts and four geldings—were entered for Yonkers Raceway’s Art Rooney Pace.

The 28th Rooney begins with a pair of $40,000 elimination races this Saturday night (May 19), each a five-to-eliminate-one affair. Those go as races six and eight during the 10-race card, with the first quartet in each returning for next Saturday night’s (May 26) $300,000 final.

Rooney 1st elim (sixth race)… 1-Jimtastic (Jason Bartlett), 2-Major Authority (Bartlett also listed), 3-Decoy (Dave Miller), 4-Matinee Fashion (George Brennan), 5-Minnie Vinnie (Tim Tetrick).

Rooney 2nd elim (8th race)…1- Trump Nation (Bartlett), 2-Kwik Talkin’ (Jordan Stratton), 3- Springsteen (Brian Sears), 4- Babes Dig Me (Brett Miller), 5- Handsoffmychips (Sears also listed).

Handsoffmychips, Major Authority, Matinee Fashion and Minnie Vinnie are the geldings of the group.

The companion event to the Rooney, the Lismore Pace, offers nine 3-year-old young ladies. That number necessitated a larger game of ‘musical chairs,’ with all the fillies in one tidy $20,000 elimination. That elim is the fifth race, with the first octet going after $111,444 in the Saturday (May 26) final.

The single elim drew out as such…1-Python Blue Chip (Brennan), 2-Krushed Apple (Dave Miller), 3-Solitary (Brent Holland), 4-Jewels Forreal (Brennan also listed), 5-Pass Line Bluechip (Bartlett), 6-Believe In Me (Sears), 7-Reign On Me (Brett Miller), 8-Alexa’s Power (Tetrick), 9-Checkered Past (Mark MacDonald).

Note that Python Blue Chip, Jewels Forreal and Reign on Me are coupled (intersecting owner/trainer), as are Krushed Apple and Believe In Me are also partnered (common ownership).
Changes for these races shall be made Tuesday (May 15)

First post Saturday is the usual 6:50 p.m.