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BETTOR'S WISH WINS 29TH ART ROONEY PACE

"But he's not a $20,000 horse anymore."

So said co-owner and trainer Chris Ryder Saturday night (May 25th) after his charge-and driver Deter Dunn-made short work of Yonkers Raceway's $300,000 Art Rooney Pace. It was Kiwis on Parade during a cool and windy Westchester evening.

The 29th Rooney, for 3-year-old colts and geldings, turned into a romp for the odds-on ($3.70) choice.

One of the last week’s two elimination winners, Bettor’s Wish drew post position No. 6 in the finale. He found himself three-wide early, outside of Captain Malicious (Mark MacDonald) and Buddy Hill (Brian Sears) and inside of Blood Money (Scott Zeron).

Blood Money made the lead before a 27-second opening quarter-mile, then a 55.4 intermission. Going down the backside the second time, Rollwithpapajoe (Joe Bongiorno) was advancing out of fifth before he broke stride.

That allowed Buddy Hill a path out of third, and he was about to leave the cones, Bettor's Wish extricated himself from the pocket. The one disposed of Blood Money soon after a 1:24.1 three-quarters, preparing to bust the race wide open.

Bettor's Wish slapped three lengths on his rivals in and out of the final turn, then ran it up. The final margin was a half-dozen lengths in a season's-best 1:51.4. Second went to Branquinho (Tyler Buter), while Air Force Hanover (Dave Miller) was third. That tandem offered solid closes, especially "Air Force," the faster 1:52.4 elim winner who was stuck behind the eight-ball here.

Buddy Hill and Blood Money picked off the remainder, while Captain Malicious-uncoupled stablemate of the runner-up-Price Hanover (Dan Dube) and he misbehaving Rollwithpapajoe completed the order.

For Bettor's Wish, a Bettor's Delight colt also co-owned by Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm and Kenneth Solomon, he's won all three of his seasonal starts ($180,000). The exacta paid 24, the triple returned $242.50 and the superfecta paid $1,138.


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