Four star win for Berry

Friday night, Pat Berry guided Delightful Hope to a win in the $64,000 final of the Petticoat Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-old fillies and mares, which was Yonkers Raceway's richest race of the season to date, until Saturday night, when Berry guided Four Star Tommy to a win in the $70,000 final of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-old colts and geldings, the Raceway's richest event of the season to date.

Four Star Tommy, a 4-year-old Jate Lobell gelding, defeated his stable- and entrymate Dragon's Yankee (Greg Grismore) by two lengths, pacing a "good" mile in 1:55.

The pair, sent off at 1-2, were trained by Mickey Burke, as was the aforementioned Petticoat victress, Delightful Hope.

Southwind Tabor (Jim Meittinis), who gapped the cover of the winner, wound up third in the Sagamore, while Riegle Ideal (Jim Pantaleano)--who cut the early fractions at 67-1--and Dealing Magic (Jeff Gregory) came away with small change.

Paradise Willie (Larry Stalbaum), Category Six (Eric Goodell) and Slickest Hanover (Stephane Bouchard) rounded out the official pecking order.

But the finale of the Sagamore was "Tommy's" tune. Leaving from post position five, he and his steed sat chilly early as Riegle Ideal gave his backers a rush. The pole-sitter led through a 28-second opening quarter-mile and 58-second half.

Dragon's Yankee chose to sit behind the longshot leader, leaving Four Star Tommy to take up the first-up cause. "Tommy" went over the early leader before the 1:26.1 three-quarters, putting three lengths between him and rest of the field entering the lane.

With no serious challenges--his pari-mutuel partner found the passing lane way late--Four Star Tommy went under the line a safe winner.

"I was sort of surprised Greg (Grismore) didn't try to retake the lead, but I also thought there'd would be a few more leavers," Berry said. "Once I saw everyone settle in, I wanted to give my horse as much of a breather as possible before moving him.

"He's raced well this whole series (two wins and a second in three preliminary legs), and I think he has a future."

The favored tandem returned $3.10, leading a $9.90 exacta and $40.80 triple (Southwind Tabor and Riegle Ideal were second and third for exotic wagering purposes).

Four Star Tommy, now five-for-11 in '07, is co-owned by Hylight Stable, Elmer Henkel and Joelyn Shoup, all based in Buckeye country. The $35,000 Sagamore winner's share pushed his life earnings just over the six-figure plateau.

Proving he's more than a one-hit--or two-hit--wonder, Berry also won Saturday night's $35,000 Open Handicap Pace with a gutty Western Guy ($6.70). The 4-year-old son of Western Hanover, passed in mid-stretch by first-over Keystone Rodeo (Brad Hanners), fought back to prevail by a half-length in 1:55.2. Whispers Spy (Meittinis) was third.

The exacta paid $24.80, with thte triple worth $45.60.

Berry's four-win night also featured Rob Roy Mattgregor ($3.80) in a $30,000 winners-over event and Buddy Brown ($17.20), who skimmed the cones in the $25,000 Sagamore consolation.

Grismore also sat behind a quartet of winners on the dozen-race dossier. (Yonkers)

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