10YO Tenant In Chief upsets in Levy action

Saturday's card at Yonkers Raceway featured five $50,000 divisions in Round 3 of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.

 

The first division saw even-money Atochia (Bartlett, $4.30) parlay a pocket trip into a length-and-a-quarter win 1:52.4...his second consecutive series  victory. Legal Litigator (Brett Miller) cut the mile, dealt with a serious bid by Winbak Fox (Gregory), then weakened late. He did hold second over Winbak Fox. Four Trumps A (Larry Stalbaum) was fourth, while pole-sitting second choice Chasin Racin (Callahan) jumped it off at the start.

 

For Atochia, a a 6-year-old Dragon Again gelding trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, JJK and M1 Stables,. it was his second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $30.60, the triple returned $250.50 and the superfecta returned $2,208.

 

Saturday's second Levy event found a game and determined Southwind Lynx (Callahan, $5.80) gut it out in 1:53.2. The 2007 Art Rooney Pace champ  went by a stubborn Dave Ain't Here (Jim Pantaleano) at the half, dueled with 3-5 fave Poker Hat (Miller)--already a two-leg winner--before that one grudgingly gave way. Then, Real Nice (Bouchard) uncorked a late rally, only to miss a neck.

 

 For Southwind Lynx, a 6-year-old Real Artist gelding co-owned by (trainer) George Teague and K&R Racing, it was his fourth win in seven seasonal starts (2-for-3 in Levy). The exacta paid $95.50, with the triple returning $172.50.

 

Defending series champ Foiled Again (Bartlett, $3.40) put forth a race-and-a-half in winning the third (1:53.2) division. He went first-up into a pedestrian  (:58.1) half, then was able to outgame Corky Baran (Dube) by a head in a zippy :55.1 back portion. Badlands Nitro (Callahan) was third, with Blueridge Western  (Cat Manzi) fourth.

 

For Foiled Again, a 6-year-old Dragon Again gelding trained by Burke for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables, is now 2-for-3 this  season...all races in Levy competition. The exacta paid $8.90, the triple returned $23 and the superfecta paid $69.50.

 

Saturday night's penultimate series event saw Pangiorno (Dube, $10) join the Levy legion...and equal the fastest local mile (1:52.3) of the season. After  taking over from longshot Meant to Be Me (Manzi), Pangiorno was the beneficiary of some confusion behind when Meant to Be Me threw in some steps. Southwind Tabor (Greg Merton) received the worst it it, while Special Report (Stalbaum) offered a serious, uncovered challenge.

 

Pangiorno then saw Go Go Solano (Miller) and even-money Western Ace (Callahan) make the scene late, with the leader beating Western Ace by a  head. For Pangiorno, a 4-year-old The Panderosa gelding co-owned by (trainer) Peter Kleinhans and AJKS Racing, it was his second win in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $22, with the triple returning $77.50.

 

The evening's final Levy event saw Wholly Louy (Manzi) get banged down to 2-5 on the toteboard, but it was Tenant In Chief  (Brent Holland, $20)  rolling by off cover and prevailing by a neck for a second series win in a row. Mr. Wiggles (Callahan) couldn't reach that one from third-over, with Days of  Courage N (Bouchard) third. "Louy" faded to fourth.

 

For Tenant In Chief, a 10-year-old son of Western Hanover trained by Anita Vallee for owner Alrioy Chow, it was has second win in seven seasonal  starts. The exacta paid $104.50, with the triple returning $390.50. (Yonkers Raceway)