Dan Carter Wins Saturday 32G Open-Handicap Pace At Yonkers
Dan Carter (#3 Jason Bartlett) hangs on to win the $32,000 Open-Handicap Pace in 1:53.4 by a nose for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weber Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables, W. Haas, Jr. Tom Berg, photo.
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, March 6, 2010 -- Dan Carter (Jason Bartlett) whipped five Saturday night rivals--two of them right on the money--winning Yonkers Raceway's $32,000 Open Handicap Pace.
The field, reduced by a couple after defections of Four Trumps A (judges) and early choice Don'tgetbyme (sick), saw the three inside entities in play early.
Palmer's Z Tam (Pat Lachance) left, as did Dan Carter and a three-deep, 17-10 favorite Legal Litigator (Cat Manzi). Legal Litigator paid a brutal (:26.4) price for the privilege before getting a :55.4 intermisision.
The people's preference put forth a 1:25 three-quarters, setting up a three-headed monster melee in the stretch, Dan Carter edged out from the pocket, with Palmer's Z Tam taking the short way. "Dan" was a scant schnozz better than "Palmer" in a season's-best 1:53.4, with Legal Litigator beaten just a neck.
For Dan Carter, a 4-year-old I Am a Fool gelding owned by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, JJK Stables and W Haas Jr., he returned $8.40 (second choice) for his second (consecutive) win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $33.20, with the triple returning $99.50.
Bartlett completed a sweep of the weekend's trio of Open Handicap Pace events.
Saturday night also included four, $10,000 divisions in third (final) preliminary round of the Hopeful Pacing Series for 3-year-old colts and geldings
Joey the Czar (Jim Meittinis, $2.90) was the fastest of the foursome, strollimng home in 1:55.3. The Art Major colt, trained by Bruce Saunders for owner Kevin Gee, went the distance by 9 1/2 lengths for his first win a half-dozen seasonal starts.
The other series winners were...
--Big Mystery (by Artsplace), co-owners James Switlyk & Gary Bury/trainer Burke/driver Greg Grismore (first life win) 1:58/$11.60;
--Vintage Fenom (by Rocknroll Hanover); owner Edward Bloom/trainer Chris Marino/driver John Sheehan; (life-best) 1:55.4/$23.20;
--Fox Valley Valkari,g (by Sportsmaster); owner Lon Frocione/trainer Brett Bittle/driver Jeff Gregory; 1:58/$2.70.
The finals for both genders of the Hopeful are scheduled for next Friday (fillies, $46,900) and Saturday (colts/geldings, $49,700) nights, respectively.
Yonkers' regular five-night-per-week schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) remains n effect. First post for all racing programs is 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.
Please note that the Raceway now offers five superfectas nightly (races 3,5,7,10 & 12), provided there are a sufficient number of wagering interests in each scheduled superfecta race.
BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
