Yonkers, NY--Foiled Again turned 60 Saturday night (April 7). He doesn't look it, doesn't act it, but it says it right there on his record: 60.
"60," as in the number of career wins after his wrapped-up, public workout in the fifth, $50,000 division of Yonkers Raceway's George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.
Foiled Again ($2.10) outdrew and outclassed his six rivals, with regular driver Yannick Gingras in tow. He retook from early leaver Blatantly Good (George Brennan), then saw the sights through fractions of 27.4, 57.4, 1:25.3 and 1:52.4. He defeated the pocket-sitter by 1-3/4 lengths, with Nob Hill High (Jordan Stratton) third.
Foiled Again, a triple-millionaire 8-year-old Dragon Again gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) for (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables, is now 2-for-3 both in series and seasonal work. The exacta paid $5, with the triple (three wagering choices) returning $11.20.
"I mean, 60 wins for a claimer is one thing, but at this level, that's crazy," Gingras said. "He's the same horse every week, just goes about his business, and when I ask him, he's always there. In a series like this, racing six weeks in a row, you try to get away with one of two soft miles, and tonight was one for him.
"He's better at this time this season and he was at this time last season."
Newly-minted (as of a week ago) millionaire Real Nice (Jason Bartlett, $2.10) turned the evening final series foray into a laugher, getting "cheap" mile of his own (1:53.2) while going the distance by 5-3/4 lengths. MacRaiderN (Brennan), BJ's Bequia (Mark MacDonald) and Power of a Moment (Brent Holland) completed the rundown for exotics.
Real Nice, a 7-year-old Real Artist gelding co-owned by Beverly and Gary Paganelli and Anthony Scussel and trained by Rich Banca, is a perfect 3-for-3 in this series and 3-for-6 in this season. The exacta returned $4.50, the triple paid $15.60 and the superfecta returned $50.50.
Saturday's other Levy divisions were concluded as such:
In the first division, odds-on Sea Venture (Brennan, $2.60) repeated his series win of a week ago, sitting pocketed to Code Word (Gingras) before scooting by. The margin was 2-1/2 lengths in 1:52.4, with Foreign Officer (Bartlett) a ground-saving third.
Sea Venture, a 4-year-old Western Terrorgelding co-owned by (trainer) Lou Pena and Racing Team of America, has won three (consecutive) races in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $10.80, with the triple returning $28.60.
In the second division, Fitz's Z Tam (Brian Sears, $10.60) prevailed from the three-hole, defeating a first-up River Shark (MacDonald) by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1. Clear Vision (Gingras) faded to third as the 11-10 favorite
Fitz's Z Tam, a 5-year-old Cole Muffler gelding trained by Tyler Raymer for co-owners Silva Stables and Martin Scharf, is now 2-for-8 this season. The exacta paid $38, with the triple returning $73.50.
In the third division, Atochia (Gingras, $4.30), as the 11-10 favorite, waltzed to the tune of a 57.2 half, then held pocket-sitting Reibercrombie (Sears) at bay. The margin was a half-length in 1:53.1. Flipper J (Brennan) was third as the public choices finished in order.
Atochia, a millionaire 7-year-old Real Artist gelding trained by Burke for himself, Weaver Brucsemi, JJK and M1 Stables, joined Real Nice with three wins in as many series starts (3-for-4 this season). The exacta returned $8.20, the triple paid $21.40 and the superfecta (One More Laugh [Ray Schnittker]) paid $81.50.
In the fourth division, second choice Art Z (Brett Miller, $5.60) slipped out to race second-over, then edged past a first-up Razzle Dazzle (Sears), winning by a length in 1:52.4. Third went to Dancin Yankee (Bartlett), while 9-10 favorite Southern Allie (Gingras)--despite a 57-second opening half--faded to fifth.
Art Z, a 4-year-old Artiscape gelding owned by Richard Lombardo and trained by Jordan Rubin, won his second race of this series and third in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $44.80, with the triple returning $152.
Yonkers' five-night-per-week (Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday) live schedule continues. First post for all programs remains at 7:10 p.m. Evening simulcast