Yonkers $150,000 Invite to Psilvuheartbreaker

Psilvuheartbreaker, returning to town Saturday night equipped with a Chester form spree and an inside draw, won Yonkers Raceway's $150,000 Frederick Fialkow Invitational Pace.

With Jim Meittinis driving for trainer Bruce Saunders, 'Heartbreaker' was sent postward as 3-1 fourth choice in the field of seven (Western Smoocher was judges' defection). He played the role of pocket protector as third choice Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras) made the lead before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile.

Second-choice Western Ace (Jason Bartlett) was an unsettling third, taking out to go forth. However, Gingras was not in a giving mood, and Western Ace was hung. Foiled Again hit the intermission in :55.4, with Psilvuheartbreaker in behind, Western Ace parked and 40-1 proposition All Over the Place (Dan Dube) sitting second-over.

Foiled Again maintained the big chair through a 1:24.1 three-quarters, taking a three-length lead into the lane. Psilvuheartbreaker edged off the cones, leaving the passing lane to another 40-1 shot, Cheyenne Hollywood (Cat Manzi).

'Heartbreaker' and rousing Meittinisi urging were a half-length better than "Hollywood" in 1:52.1. Foiled Again was third, beaten a length-and-a-quarter. Kenneth J (Stephane Bouchard) and Western Ace--the two millionaires in the field--earned the final two pay envelopes, while tepid 2-1 choice Noble Falcon (Jordan Stratton) and All Over the Place rounded out the order.

Noble Falcon--who invaded having won his last five (Meadowlands) races--could not get involved from his outside venue.

Meanwhile, Psilvuheartbreaker was back in Westchester for his first visit since finishing second in May's $100,000 consolation of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series. He has hit the board in his last eight Chester tries.

"He just has such desire," Meittinis said. "He made $300,000 last season racing in overnights. He's tough."

"He's never cheated us," Saunders said after "Heartbreaker" went over the $700,000 career earnings plateau. "Whevever we race him, he shows up, and we're very honored to win this race."

The invitational event was named in honor of Fred Fialkow, a longtime successful local harness owner who died this past May at age 76. His wife, Anita, along with many family and friends, made the winner's circle presentation.

Psilvuheartbreaker, a five-year-old Nobleland Sam gelding owned by Frank Bellino, returned $8.10 for his fourth win in two dozen seasonal starts. The exacta paid $101.50, with the triple worth $323.

In other action, Saturday night's $40,000 Open Handicap Pace was won by Rain Train(Bartlett), who grinded by a stubborn Dragon Master (Jim Pantaleano) in 1:53.2. The five-year-old Jenna's Beach Boy gelding, paying $3.00 as the people's choice, has won his last two races with a week off in between. (Yonkers Raceway)

« Back