Camluck son Ijustdontgiveacam kicked off the night in style for McIntosh, winning comfortably in a final time of 1:55 with light urging from driver Jack Moiseyev in deep stretch.

After Mike Saftic left hard and took command of the pace with The Bam Man, Moiseyev looked for a three-hole trip heading into the first turn. With no room to be found along the pylons, Ijustdontgiveacam remained on the outside and fired to the front, first over.

The bay secured a clear lead not long after the field passed the first quarter, which was completed in a tepid 28.1.

Once in front, Ijustdontgiveacam relaxed nicely for Moiseyev, slowing the pace down to :58. Under his own steam, the 1-5 favorite took charge of the race in the third quarter and opened-up a two-length lead at the stretch call. Despite the ¾-length margin of victory at the wire, the victory never seemed in doubt.

The driver called the victory a nice confidence booster for the five-time winner, who was a distant second to the red-hot Putnam Romeo in the Apaches Fame Final on March 25.

“We ended up going to the front and had pretty soft fractions,” said Moiseyev. “He kicked home really good.”

Considering the competition that Ijustdontgiveacam has been up against, owner and trainer Bob McIntosh didn’t seemed concerned with the time (slowest of three divisions) and appeared pleased that the colt had an easy week.

“It was slow, but handy,” said McIntosh.

The Bam Man, the first quarter leader, remained in the two-hole for the remainder of the mile, closing some ground late and holding off the strong stretch charge of third-place finisher Hes A Nice Guy.

Making just his second pari-mutuel start, the son of Artsplace trailed the field by more than six lengths early in the mile. The Luc Ouellette-driven colt briefly followed the cover of Gyraider on the far turn and then angled three-wide for clear sailing through the stretch, defeated just two lengths and pacing the final quarter in :27.2.

The exactor returned $8.40 and the triactor returned $17.00.

Due to a medicating error, Fullphilurfantasy was scratched from the first division by the judges.

The second division of the first leg of the Youthful Series illustrates how, in a mere seven days, everything can change.

In the final of last week’s Apaches Fame Pacing Series, at longshot odds of 15-1, Berts Casey paced a half in :55.4 and broke stride during the third quarter.

Off at 15-1 again this week, the son of Albert Albert atoned for last week’s disappointment with a lifetime best mile in 1:52.4.

Leaving hard from the gate, the Brad Forward-driven gelding led the field of eight for the entire race, with the exception of a brief leadership exchange with Bona Fide X Ample, who took command heading into the first turn.

The two-hole didn’t belong to Berts Casey for long. After a speedy opening quarter in :27, the Joe Nantais trainee reasserted himself mid-way on the first turn, successfully regaining the lead and clearing the field with about 5/8's of the race remaining.

The Leo Racicot-owned homebred paced the half in :56.3 and stopped the teletimer in 1:24.3 for three quarters.

Knowing somewhere behind him were two halves of a 3-5 Bob McIntosh-trained entry waiting to pounce, Forward says he was a little concerned how the race set up.

“I was surprised he dug back in as strong as he did,” he said.

In dramatic fashion, Berts Casey paced on courageously through the stretch to hold off several fast-closing challengers to notch his third victory from six starts.

Stonebridge Regal, the Moiseyev-driven part of the favored entry, was one of three pacers attempting to tag the front runner at the finish, but to no avail.

For most of the race, the Artsplace colt remained in third position, beginning a first-over move heading into the final turn. The outside rally stalled, leaving the favorite hung out third and with a great deal of work to do in the stretch.

Almost sensing the colt had more in reserve, Moiseyev angled the colt towards the cones where he waited for a seam to open up in mid-stretch.

With some late pace to offer, Stonebridge Regal found room between Berts Casey and Bona Fide X Ample and salvaged second, just missing the victory by a quarter of a length. The exactor paid $84.10 with the choice on the bottom of the ticket.

In an interview at the end of the night, McIntosh explained what happened to Stonebridge Regal on the second turn.

“He grabbed the right line a little bit on the turn. So we’re going to have to make an equipment adjustment,” says McIntosh. “He came back on, like good horses do.”

At 30-1, Bona Fide X Ample nosed Blueridge Dbang out for the show, sparking an $886.10 triactor payoff.

In the third division of the series (race 10), Paul Ysebaert's namesake, I Zee, put his undefeated three-for-three record on the line and iced his competition with a quick and decisive first-over move on the backstretch.

Owned by partners Ysebaert and McIntosh Stables, the bay remained in mid-pack off the gate, as Western Assault, Prime Time Bliss and Absolut Hall all bid for the early lead, causing a swift opening quarter in :27.

Nearing the half, driver Jack Moiseyev tipped I Zee out for a clear shot at the front. With a smooth, speedy middle move, he crossed and cleared before the second turn and opened up a commanding lead, pacing home strongly through the stretch in final time of 1:53.1, a lifetime best by a full second.

The colt is the first foal produced by the classy mare Firststariseetonite, who won the 1999 Robert Stewart Stakes and was also trained by McIntosh and owned by Ysebaert.

Rewarding his many backers with a $3.00-return, the Western Hanover colt swept through conditioned races this winter in impressive fashion. The McIntosh-trainee qualified twice since his last victory. Before tonight’s race, driver Jack Moiseyev called the qualifier of March 25 “monstrous.”

McIntosh was pleased with I Zee’s performance in the opening leg, commending Moiseyev for his tactful use of the colt as the tempo slowed on the backstretch. He continues to be cautiously optimistic when it comes to his future.

“He’s awful green yet,” said McIntosh after the race. “He seems to be getting better and better. Time will tell, but so far he’s done everything we’ve asked of him.”

Finishing second and showing good late interest was second choice Village Joshua (Chris Christoforou). Sub Woofer finished third, rallying on the outside through the lane.

The second leg of the series, which is restricted to non-winners of three races or $15,000 lifetimes as of December 31, 2004, resumes Friday, April 8.

Courtesy of WEG

To view Friday’s results, click below.