Levy's 3rd round contested

Yonkers Raceway's enhanced purse structure has caught the attention of horses and horsemen alike. In Saturday night's third leg of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series the three $50,000 divisions were won by two drivers--one of whom, Greg Grismore, has relocated here permanently, while the other, Tim Tetrick, pops in for all that wacky weekend wampum.

Grismore, as hot as anyone on the grounds over the past month, guided 20-1 shot Pacific Renegade and Maltese Artist to bookend victories in this Free-For-All event.

Grismore angled Pacific Renegade--who started from post position nine in the second tier--to the far outside in the first division, and the 6 year old responded. The son of Cam's Card Shark just did defeat Keystone Rodeo (Tetrick) by a nose in 1:53.1. It was the first victory in nine tries this season for Pacific Renegade, who returned $42.60.

Tom Fanning trains the winner for owner Joseph Smith.

Village Jate N (Tony Morgan) was a no-excuse third, while Tarver Hanover (Pat Berry), the slight 2-1 favorite after winning his first two series starts, was parked the mile by Bono Bests (Duke Sugg) and finished last.

Grismore also drove Maltese Artist to his second series win, edging from the pocket to get past pace-setting favorite Special Report (Larry Stalbaum) by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.1. Fox Valley Appeal (Berry) was a best-of-the-rest third.

Maltese Artist, a 6-year-old Artiscape gelding, paid $5.80 as the second choice for his third win in nine starts this season. Mickey Burke trained Maltese Artist for co-owners Sylvia Burke, John Howard and James Koran.

Tetrick won the night's middle Levy event, going the distance with Eyes On Kassa.

The 5-year-old gelding statebred Kassa Branca gelding held off 15-1 shot Cheyenne Hollywood (Pat Lachance) by a neck in 1:53.2. Bay Sign (Berry) was along for third.

Eyes On Kassa, now four-for-14 this season for co-owners Fred and Anita Fialkow and trainer Julius Czermann Jr., paid $7.20 as the second choice.

True Force (Jim Meittinis), the 8-5 favorite, finished in a dead-heat for fifth.

The Levy Memorial Series, with three more preliminary legs, continues through April and into May, with the $200,000 (est.) final scheduled for Saturday night, May 12. (Yonkers)

« Back