YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, March 10, 2015 – Yonkers Raceway's 2015 stakes season continued Tuesday afternoon, with the opening round of the annual tribute to Teddy Roosevelt, aka the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series.
The series, for 3- and 4-year-old males who are/were non-winners of four races and/or $40,000 through last Dec. 1, offered five, $12,500 events, with odds-on form holding in every race.
The well-bet winners were…
–Fort Knox,4 (by American Ideal); owner Little Bapa LLC/trainer Jennifer Sabot/driver George Brennan; 1:52.3/$3.70;
–Roger Mach 'Em,g,4 (by American Ideal); owner Little Bapa LLC/trainer Sabot/driver Brian Sears; 1:54.4/$3.20;
–JK Patriot,g,4 (by Bettor's Delight); co-owners Matthew Bencic,Sam Schillaci/trainer Linda Toscano/driver Tim Tetrick; 1:55.2/$2.60;
–Major Uptrend,g,4 (by Somebeachsomewhere); owner Howard Taylor/trainer Ron Burke/driver Brennan; 1:53/$2.90;
–Vance Bayama,4 (by Four Starzzz Shark); co-owners Michel Allard,Gerrie Tucker,Majs NY Inc,Kapildeo Singh/trainer Rene Allard/driver Dan Dube; 1:54.3/$3.30.
After the Sagamore Hill events, the baton was passed to the "French" trots, with five oversized, added-distance races completing the card. Brennan swept the final two of those races, completing a four-win afternoon.
Total handle for the dozen-race card was a season-high $1,014,980 (North American number only, overseas export figures not included).
Note that since no one took down Tuesday's Pick 5, Thursday's gimmick offers a carryover of $3,178.11 (50-cent base wager, races 7 through 11).
The Raceway's live season continues Thursday through Saturday (first post 7:10 PM), then an Ides of March "French" Sunday matinee (first post 1:10 PM). It's the final Sunday live program until early November.
Frank Drucker