Callahan, Teague win 2 Levy divisions

Yonkers Raceway's premier event for free-for-allers--the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing  Series--began its six-week odyssey on a brisk Saturday night with a half-dozen, $50,000 divisions. Nearly everyone came to play, with 43 of the 52 nominees peddling their wares.

 

Millionaire Blueridge Western ($8.60) earned first-dance honors, taking advantage of a slick Dave Palone drive to last in 1:53.3. Leaving outside his six  rivals, "Blueridge" ducked in fourth. He then went up and over Kentucky Rebel (Mike Cole) down the backside, sprinting to enough daylight before tepid 5-2 favorite  Atochia (Jason Bartlett) showed up late.

 

Blueridge Western won by a diminishing neck, with Runover Feeling (Dan Dube) a best-of-the rest third.

 

Kevin McDermott trains Blueridge Western, a 5-year-old  Allamerican Ingot gelding--now 5-for-11 this season--for owner Francis Azur. The exacta paid $31, with the triple returning $123.50.

 

The second Levy legion saw pole-sitting favorite Clear Vision (Cat Manzi, $3.90) retake from Lislea Miles (Brent Holland), then hold both that one and  King Cat Anvil N (Jordan Stratton) at bay in 1:54.2. Chasin Racin (Corey Callahan) wedged into a seat, came first-up and offered nothing.

 

Meanwhile, Clear Vision, co-owned by David McDuffee and John Fielding and trained by Richard Norman, went on to whip Lislea Miles by a neck. The  winner, a 4-year-old Western Hanover gelding, is now 1-for-2 this season. The exacta paid $20.40, with the triple returning $54.

 

Poker Hat (Brett Miller, $7.60) was sharp in the third event, taking a lot a backside air before grinding past Badlands Nitro (Callahan) by three-quarters  of a length in 1:52.4--a tick off the fastest local mile of the season. Legal Litigator (Dube) was third, with 17-10 choice Jeremy's Successor (Tyler Buter) fourth.

 

Poker Hat, a 6-year-old Cam's Card Shark gelding trained by James Borke for co-owners Robert Lombardo and Howard Taylor, is now 4-for-11 this  season. The exacta paid $44.40, with the triple returning $295.

 

Saturday's fourth Levy grouping saw horse-for-the-course Wholly Louy (Cat Manzi, $5.10) snap pacesetting Mr. Wiggles (Callahan) from  second-over. Real Nice (Stephane Bouchard) was third. "Louy," owned by Bob Hamather and trained by Casie Coleman, won by three-quarters of a length, his  second victory in five starts this year.  The exacta paid $11.40, with the triple returning $87.50.

 

The defending series champ, Foiled Again (Bartlett), made his seasonal debut--at even-money--in the fifth flight. Sitting pocketed to River Shark (Dube),  he was outgamed by a first-up Western Ace (Callahan, $9.50) in 1:53.

 

Western Ace, co-owned by (trainer) George Teague and Kovach Stables, won the battle of  millionaires by a half-length.

 

Western Ace, a 7-year-old Western Ideal gelding, won his third race in nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $30.20, with the triple returning $124.

 

Last, but not least, Southwind Lynx (Callahan), winner of the million-dollar '07 Art Rooney Pace here, was first-over in picking off pocket-sitting 8-5 choice  Corky Baran (Dube) by a head in 1:53.4. Handsome Harry (Bartlett) cut relatively cheap early fractions but faded to third.

 

"Lynx"  gave trainer Teague--who shares ownership with K&R  Racing--his second series win from five starters. Southwind Lynx, a 6-year-old son of Real Artist, returned $10.80 for his third win in five seasonal efforts.  The exacta paid $40.80, with the triple  returning $123.50.

 

"I can make the 3 1/2- hour trip for these horses all the time," Callahan said of his first Yonkers work night. "I've driven Western Ace before and that's his game. He can sit out there for a long time and go when he has to.

 

"I'd never been behind Southwind Lynx before tonight, but I talked to Tim (Tetrick) about him, and he said he'd fly off another helmet. So,. I tried to work out a second-over trip, but no one would come out in front of me. Off the last turn, I figured I had Jason (Bartlett) beat, and he had enough to hold off (Corky Baran). I was really pleased with all the ones I drove, except Chasin Racin. I don't what happened to him, but I plan on showing up again next Saturday…if George (Teague) wants me."

 

Saturday's card also included Round 2 of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-old colts and geldings. The four, $12,500 divisions were won as follows:

 

Giddy Up Delight (by Bettor's Delight); owner David Shea/trainer Mark Ford'driver Bartlett; 1:55.2;

Mr. Rockford (by Dragon Again); owner Dean Davis/trainer Ford/driver Dube; 1:55.4;

Eragon (by Dragon Again); owner-trainer Peter Kleinhans/driver Greg Grismore; 1:55.3;

Woodstock Hanover (by Bettor's Delight); co-owners Ken Tucci & Glenn Ellis/trainer Aaron Lambert/driver Bouchard; 1:56.2.

 

(Frank Drucker for Yonkers Raceway)

 

.