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Penultimate Levy prelim round contested at Yonkers Raceway

Penultimate Levy prelim round contested at Yonkers Raceway
Saturday, April 11, 2015 - Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY---Saturday night's fourth round of Yonkers Raceway's George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series, despite missing some old, familiar faces, played out in a trio of intriguing events.

Mike Lizzi photo

Windsong Jack made the made the most of the rail, winning in 1:52.4.
Pole-sitting Windsong Jack (Brian Sears, $6.20) won the opening, $50,000 division, getting by Mach it So (Tim Tetrick) late and edging way by a length-and-a-quarter in a season's-best 1:52.4. Machs Beach Boy (Pat Lachance) was third.

It was 9-5 favorite Bettor's Edge (Yannick Gingras) making the lead and setting sail through intervals of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:23.4. Eventually tackled by Mach it So, the leader broke in the final turn. Windsong Jack was able to extricate himself, then go past a stubborn Mach it So.

For second choice Windsong Jack, a 5-year-old Santanna Blue Chip gelding traiend by Jennifer Sabot for owner Little Bapa LLC, it was his second win in eight seasonal starts (1-for-4 in series) The exacta paid $19.80, with no triple wagering offered due to the short field

Mike Lizzi photo

Favored Take It Back Terry lived up to expectations, winning in 1:53.1.
Odds-on choice Take it Back Terry (George Brennan, $2.90) had few issues in the second division. Quarter-moving from post no. 2, "Terry" stole way a cheap second quarter (:27.1, :56.4), then easily held sway (1:25.2, 1:53.1) by a no-issues three-quarters of a length. A solid, first-up effort from Frankies Dragon (Sears) found him getting second, with Fat Man's Alley (Jason Bartlett) third.

For "Terry," a 6-year-old Western Terror gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Phil Collura, he's now 4-for-12 this season (2-for-3 in series). The exacta paid $23.40, with the triple returning $84.

The evening's final series event saw a contested front end involving Clear Vision (Gingras) and Lucan Hanover (Tetrick). The former rebuffed the advances of the latter (:26.3, :54.1), with 7-10 choice Michael's Power (Dan Dube) in behind.

Mike Lizzi photo

Heez Orl black N returned $29.20 for his Levy division win.
The early fractions made this a closer's contest, and after a 1:23 three-quarters, the back of the bus was heard from. A from-last Heez Orl Black N (Sears, $29.20), starting outside his five foes, prevailed in a hands-and-knees (:30.1) final quarter. He whipped another longshot in National Debt (Eric Carlson) by a length in 1:53.1. Lucan Hanover held third despite a brutal trip, while "Michael" wound up last.

For fourth choice Heez Orl Black N, a 7-year-old Down Under gelding trained by Anita Vallee for co-owners Shaun Vallee and D P V Racing Stable, it was his fourth win in 11 '15 tries. The exacta paid $323, with the triple returning $1,457.

It should be noted that P H Supercam and Beach Memories, sitting 1-2 in series points after three rounds, were both given this round off for good behavior, while Foiled Again, looking to regain his near-$7 million form, also was not entered.

Series standings, through fourth leg-1-P H Supercam (225 points), 2t-Beach Memories (200), 2t-Michael's Power (200), 2t-Take it Back Terry (200), 5t-Fat Man's Alley (187), 5t-Windsong Jack (187), 7-Polak A (175), 8-Sapphire City (170). Finals for the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series are set for Saturday, Apr. 25 (purses for both TBA).

Note that since no one took Saturday night's Pick 5, Monday's gimmick begins with a carryover of $4,361.40 ($10,000 guaranteed pool).

The Raceway's live season continues Monday night (post time 7:10 p.m.), Tuesday (1 p.m., second round of YR/SOA of NY Bonus Trotting Series), then Thursday through Saturday (all at 7:10 PM, with Matchmaker and Levy series continuing Fridays and Saturdays). Evening simulcasting available around all nighttime programs, with afternoon simulcasting daily.

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