Badlands Nitro, Santanna Blue Chip, favored in elims

Eleven 3-year-old colts shall contest the 2008 edition of Yonkers Raceway's Art Rooney Pace with Badlands Nitro and Santanna Blue Chip the favorites in their respective eliminations which will be held Saturday night.

The total purse of the '08 Rooney is  $618,270, with a pair of $40,000 eliminations. The first four finishers in  each elim returns for the July 5 final.

Leading the first elimination (sixth race) for the Rooney is Badlands Nitro (Brian Sears, post one), who looms a very short price (he's 1-5 on the early line) from the pylons. The son of Badlands Hanover, co-owned (with John Celii)  by trainer George Teague, was second in the $1.5 million North America Cup in his most recent try after beginning the season with four consecutive victories.

The second elimination includes early choice Santanna Blue Chip (Jody Jamieson, post four), third in the Nortrh America Cup and career millionaire; and Riggins (Ray Schnittker, post 2), the defending New York Sire Stakes frosh champ.

The fields for Saturday night's elims for the Art Rooney Pace, with declared drivers and morning-line odds:

Saturday night's card also includes the $605,854 final of Yonkers Raceway's Yonkers Trot (10th race) and $324,694 final of the Hudson  Filly Trot (8th race). (Yonkers)

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