Yonkers, NY --- Yonkers Raceway offered up Round 2 of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series Saturday night (March 28). Four $50,000 eight horse divisions again featured the best Free-For-Allers, and a trio of combatants (P H Supercam, Polak A, and Beach Memories) couldn’t wait to double their pleasure.
Defending series champ P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett, $7) used the same M-O -- sitting a three-hole and closing deep in the passing lane -- that worked so well in the 2014 finale.
P H Supercam, from post position No. 4, went by a pocket-sitting Frankie’s Dragon (George Brennan) to win the first grouping by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:52.4. Clear Vision (Yannick Gingras), the just-over-even-money favorite, was a first-up third. The first three intervals (:27, :57, 1:24.1) were provided by Heez Orl Black N (Shaun Vallee), before that one tired and finished last.
For second choice P H Supercam, an 8-year-old Million Dollar Cam gelding owned by Bamond Racing and trained by Jeff Bamond Jr., it was his fourth win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $27.40, with the triple returning $86.
The second event saw Polak A (Brian Sears, $7.80) repeat what he did in the series opener, as in win the draw and make the rest of his rivals pay.
After giving it up to Michael’s Power (Dan Dube), Polak A took over before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile. After a cheap :29.2 next interval (:56.4 half), 4-5 fave Foiled Again (Gingras) moved from third.
A :27.4 third quarter (1:24.3) ensued, with Polak A maintaining a short lead into the lane. He dug in, holding off both Michael’s Power (neck) and Foiled Again (1-1/4 lengths) in 1:52.4. Mach’s Beach Boy (Pat Lachance) was fourth.
Second choice Polak A, a 7-year-old Down Under son of Pacific Fella trained by Tony O’Sullivan for co-owners Frank Bellino & Sons, Frank J. Bellino and Joseph Bellino, is now two-for-two stateside and two-for-three in ’15. The exacta paid $33, the triple returned $64 and the superfecta paid $231.50.
Saturday’s third Levy grouping was won by 6-5 second choice Beach Memories (Gingras, $4.50). Leaving from post No. 4, he worked hard to get around Sapphire City (Bartlett). From there, and sub-sections of :27.3, :57, 1:24.2 and 1:53, Beach Memories held off that same Sapphire City by a neck, with 11-10 wagering choice Mach It So (Tim Tetrick) a non-threatening third.
For Beach Memories, a 5-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding co-owned by Strollin Stable, AWS Stables, King McNamara and Country Club Acres and trained by Ron Burke, it was his second win in five seasonal starts. The exacta paid $14, with the triple returning $28.80.
The evening’s final series event saw driver Gingras author some Raceway robbery with Bettor’s Edge ($12.20) in 1:53.3. Leaving alertly from post No. 4, Bettor’s Edge met no resistance whatsoever from 3-10 choice Dancin Yankee (Brett Miller).
Left to his own accord (:28, 57.2, 1:25.4), Bettor’s Edge opened a 1-1/2 length lead in and out of the final turn. He then easily repelled his odds-on pursuer, winning by a half-length. Windsong Jack (Sears) was third, with McErlean (Tyler Buter) fourth.
For second choice Bettor’s Edge, a 6-year-old Bettor's Delight gelding co-owned as Burke Racing by trainer Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and M1 Stable, it was his first win in a couple of ’15 tries. The exacta paid $31.40, the triple returned $66 and the superfecta paid $425.
Saturday night’s $42,000 Open Handicap Trot went to DW’s NY Yank (Brennan, $4.70) in 1:56.1.
The Raceway’s live season continues Monday night (post time 7:10 p.m., $54,800 final of the Petticoat Series), Tuesday (1 p.m., $62,200 final of the Sagamore Hill Series), then Thursday through Saturday (all at 7:10 p.m., with Matchmaker and Levy series continuing Fridays and Saturdays). Afternoon simulcasting is available daily. Note there is no simulcasting the next two Sundays -- Palm Sunday, Easter.