Burke Stable takes three of four Levy splits

Four $50,000 divisions on the third round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series were contested Saturday night at Yonkers, the Raceway's premier Free-for-All event, with the Burke Stable winning three times.

The first Levy grouping saw Atochia (Greg Grismore) leave from post two, sit a three hole to 4-5 choice King Cat Anvil N (Jordan Stratton), then get that one in the passing lane. King Cat Anvil N led through fractions of :27.4, :57 and 1:25.2, but fell a head shy in 1:53.2. Mighty Young Joe (Stacy Chiodo) sat pocketed to the  pacesetter, went out for the drive and was photoed for second.

For Atochia, a 4-year-old Dragon Again gelding trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 Stable and JJK Stables, he returned  $6.20 (second choice) for his first win in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $14.20, with the triple returning $40.60

Saturday night's second Levy division had Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras) give the Burke brigade consecutive series wins with his own repeat  performance.

The 2-5 people's choice, leaving from post six, took an early seat fourth before stepping around JP Jackpot (Bouchard). Controlling through fractions  of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:24.3, Foiled Again easily dealt with a second move from longshot Booze Cruzin (Ryan Anderson) and opened to a four-length win in 1:53. JP  Jackpot was second, with Philos Hanover (Cat Manzi) third.

For Foiled Again, a 5-year-old Dragon Again gelding co-owned by Burke, Racing JJK Stables and Weaver Bruscemi, he paid $2.90 for his third win in  four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $14.20, with the triple returning $41.60.

The third event had the Burke battalion posing for a picture once again, this time with 6-5 favorite Lucky Bettor (Grismore). Leaving from post four, he went right to  the lead before yielding to Psilvuheartbreaker (Jim Meittinis). Those two ran away and hid from the other gang members through fractions of  :27, :55.3 and 1:23.4

 Lucky Bettor, sitting a tight pocket, eased out and over "Heartbreaker:" by a length-and-half  in 1:52.1, fastest local mile of the season. Test Flight  (Bouchard) was a best-of-the-rest third.

For Lucky Bettor, a 5-year-old statebred Bettor's Delight gelding co-owned by Burke Racing, JJK Stables and Weaver Bruscemi, he paid $4.50 for his  fourth victory in 11 '09 tries. The exacta returned $9.10, with the triple paying $131.50.

Saturday night's final Levy get-together was a wire-to-wire effort by Real Nice (Bouchard). Leaving from post three, he grabbed the throttle through  intervals of :27, :56.1, 1:24. Blueridge Western (Bartlett), 2-5 going for a series three-peat, dropped in fourth before engaging the leader.

"Blueridge" ducked in for a breather with Palone Ranger (Manzi) gapped the pocket, but no matter. Real Nice was too tough, winning by 2 1/2 lengths in  1:52.3,  matching his season's best. Albert Chief A (Pat Berry) was third.

For Real Nice, a 4-year-old Real Artist gelding co-owned by  Beverly & Gary Paganelli and trained by Matt Medeiros, he paid $15.80 (third choice) for his fifth win in a dozen seasonal starts. (Yonkers)

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