He's Gorgeous fastest in NYSS

Twenty-three of the state's rookie crop of colts and gelding skidooed their way downstate Tuesday night for Yonkers Raceway's $185,122 New York Sire Stakes Jim Meagher Pace.

 

He's Gorgeous (Jason Bartlett), as the 1-4 favorite, overcame the eight hole in the first $62,074 division. After tucking in fifth, he moved approaching the half, only to be forced three-wide by a late pull from a rival. No matter. The people's preference made the lead just after intermission, then was never seriously threatened. He threw in a :27.4 kicker, widening to 3 3/4 lengths at the wire in 1:55. Gone Baby Gone (Jordan Stratton) chased in vain from the pocket, with Forty Carrots (Jim Bailey) third.

 

"He may be a 2 year old, but he doesn't act like one," Bartlett said, "He's a two-finger horse to drive and he was very good tonight."

 

For He's Gorgeous, an Art Major colt trained by Linda Toscano for owner Ken Jacobs, he returned $2.50 for his fifth victory--second consecutive--in  seven rookie starts ($81,088). The exacta paid $9.60, the triple returned $27.40 and the superfecta paid $65.50.

 

The second $60,974 Meagher mélange saw odds-on Bettor Again (Stephane Bouchard) grind his way to glory. Away fourth in a paceless race (:59 half) from post position four, he methodically marched up toward the lead. Bettor Again took over in mid-stretch, defeating Bullish Blue Chip (Jeff Gregory) by a measured three-quarters of a length in 1:57.2. Shinedupnreadytogo (Cat Manzi) was another three lengths back in third.

 

For Bettor Again, a son of Bettor's Delight owned by Patricia Stable and trained by Noel Daley, he paid $2.20 for his second win in four '09 tries  ($59,350). The exacta paid $10.60, with the triple returning $57.

 

"I won with him off the pace (at Tioga), so I wasn't too worried," Bouchard said.. "I wanted to be careful around the first turn here, but I raced him like he was the best (tonight), and he was."

 

Whiskey Pete (trainer-driver Gates Brunet) broke his maiden with a 19-1 upset in the final $62,074 statebred event. The race saw 3-5 fave Bluff Point  (Greg Grismore) misbehave behind the gate and two others do the same later. Meanwhile, "Pete" was sitting third from post three. He went up and over Speculative Edge (Bouchard) in and out of the final turn. Whiskey Pete then held off pocket-sitting Park Lane Midnight (Manzi) by a length in 1:58, with Speculative Edge third.

 

For Whiskey Pete, co-owned by Ted Gewertz, Deborah Brunet and Sam Dotro, he paid $40.60 (fifth choice) for that first win in eight first-season starts ($54,984).  The exacta paid $231, the triple returned $412.50 and the superfecta paid $5,514.

 

"He's actually a lot easier to drive than (2-year-old track record-holder) Hay Goodlooking, but I wouldn't put him in that class," Brunet said. "I sent him down (from Vernon) yesterday, and he seemed much fresher. I didn't think that horse on the lead could cut the mile and win, so I went after him and it worked out."

 

Tuesday evening's sire stakes races honored the memory of Yonkers' long-time corporate controller. The night also featured a Yonkers Trot/Travers Stakes handicapping seminar, with a distinguished panel--including racing Hall of Famers Manzi and jockey Jorge Velasquez--discussing Saturday's two big New York events. (Yonkers)