Brunton Tilly handles Yonkers

March 31, 2007

Brunton Tilly, a younger half-brother to world champ Victory Tilly, made a successful debut at Yonkers Raceway Friday night, easily winning the $35,000 Open Handicap Trot.

The 9-year-old Lindy's Crown gelding, driven by Jeff Gregory for Sweden's Stall Kompis and trainer Richard Norman, tried the four turns after a handy North American premiere a week ago at the Meadowlands.

Away from post position five at a minscule 1-5, the people's choice seemed to be looking around a bit while slipping in third early behind Kaline (Steve Smith) and a steppy Nahcotta Jude (Tim Tetrick).

After a :29.1 opeming quarter mile and before the :59.3 half, Bruton Tilly was flushed out by the mare KD Girl (Mark Ginrgrich). Kaline and Brunton Tilly hooked up going toward the 1:28.1 three quarters, but the issue would soon be over.

Brunton Tilly eased on by Kaline, widening out to prevail by 3 1/2 length in 1:57. Nahcotta Jude was third, with Always a Stormin' (Stephane Bouchard) and Buck I St. Pat (Greg Gruismore) grabbing the small change.

Overall, Brunton Tilly is 4-for-6 this season, with career earnings now listed as close to $440,000.

"He was moving his head around in the post parade, checking things out," Gregory said. "Once the gate opened, he knew exactly what he was doing." Brunton Tilly returned $2.60, with the exacta paying $12.890 and the triple worth $80.

The co-featured $35,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace saw some ladies blow up early.

G E's Jen (Tony Morgan), last week's distaff derby winner and this week's 3-2 favorite, left hard from post seven. She looped Dance Hall (Victor Kirby), eventually making a break and bothering Dance Hall into a misbehavior of her own.

That left pole-sitting Percee Angus to her own devices, carving out fractions of :28, :57.4 and 1:26.1. She succeessfully dealt with the first-up pressure of second-choice Double Dream N (Tetrick), widening out to two lengths turning for home.

Percee Angus closed the deal, winning by 2 1/4 lengths in a season's-best 1:55.1. Four Starzzzz Itt (Grismore) chased from the pocket, while Double Dream N held third. Sentbytheangels (Eric Goodell) and a recovering Dance Hall earned the final pay envelopes.

For the season, Percee Angus has four wins and a pair of seconds in 10 tries. Her career stats show 32 victories in 67 starts, proving she's far from camera shy.

The victress, co-owned by Fred & Anita Fialkow and trained by Julius Czermann Jr., returned $25.80, leading a $176 exacta and $804 triple.

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