Standardbred Owners Association of New York

733 Yonkers Ave., Suite 102, Yonkers NY, 10704 Phone: 914-968-3599 Fax: 914-968-3943

Latest News: Standardbred Owners Association of New York

Foiled Again foiled for first time as Levy prelims conclude

Sunday, April 20, 2014 - by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY --- Foiled Again lost Saturday night. Not exactly the stuff that breaks into regularly-scheduled programming, but rare enough.

Harness racing's richest-ever performer added nothing to his $6.1 million bankroll, winding up a non-factor sixth in the third and final $50,000 division of Yonkers Raceway's George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.

Starting outside his six rivals as the fifth and final preliminary round concluded, he and driver Yannick Gingras had Mach It So (Tim Tetrick) leave directly inside of him. Foiled Again -- his place in next week�s final already secure -- took back to last and never reached contention.

Meanwhile, stablemate Easy Again (George Brennan), leaving from post position No. 3, saved the souls, and the wallets, of the bridge jumpers. As a third of the 1-20 entry, Easy Again coasted through comfy fractions of :28.1. :57.3, 1:25.1 and 1:52.3 before winning by a couple of lengths. Mach It So, who left into a four-hole, was a solid, first-up second, with Mr Hasani N (Eric Goodell) third.

Foiled Again, racing from third-up behind a gapping entry partner Special Forces (Ron Pierce), beat only that one home. He wound up sixth, 7-1/2 lengths behind Easy Again.

For Easy Again, a 5-year-old Dragon Again ridgling co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 Stable and Panhellenic Stables, he and his pari-mutuel partners returned the minimum $2.10. He is now 5-for-12 this season (3-for-5 in the series). The exacta paid $4, with no triple wagering.

"He was able to get away with cheap fractions," said Brennan -- who turns 47 on Easter Sunday. "I figured that once Tim (Tetrick) left with Mach It So, Foiled Again might have to take back and it worked out.�

The evening's other two Levy events were won by P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett, $21.40) and Dancin Yankee (Pierce, $5.90).

The former, from post No. 6, left for a seat, wound up in a three-hole, then angled wide in and out of the final turn. He picked a dueling Clear Vision (Brennan) and Apprentice Hanover (Jody Jamieson). The final margin was a length over Clear Vision in a life best-matching 1:51.1.

For P H Supercam, a 7-year-old Million Dollar Cam gelding owned by Bamond Racing and trained by PJ Fraley, it was his second win in 11 2014 tries (1-for-5 in the series). The exacta paid $32.40, with no triple wagering.

"I love him," Bartlett said. "He can get a last eighth as well as anyone. When I made up ground in the last turn, I thought I had a shot."

As for Dancin Yankee, he negated his outside seven-hole at the start, rebuffed a quarter-move from Bettor's Edge (Gingras) and finished it off in 1:51, matching Foiled Again's effort a week ago as the fastest mile of the series and locally this season. The margin was 1-1/4 lengths, with Bettor�s Edge second and Texican N (Brian Sears) third.

Dancin Yankee, a 6-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser co-owned by Baron Racing and Richard Lombardo and trained by Josh Green, is now 6-for-11 this season (1-for-5 in the series). The exacta paid $7.40.

"He gets over the track very well and I left a lot in the tank for the final," Pierce said.

The $567,000 final of the Levy and the $371,400 final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker go next Saturday night, with open draws taking place Tuesday afternoon.

Also on Saturday night, 670-1 bomber RU Ready To Rock (Jordan Stratton, $136.50) won a blanket photo in the $20,000 eighth race pace, providing the largest win mutuel of the season to date.

News Archives