Youthful continues at Wdb

The Youthful Pacing Series for 3-year-old pacing colts continues with two $20,000(C) divisions Friday evening at Woodbine. The dashes have been carded as races four (8:40 p.m.) and eight (10 p.m.) on the 11-race program. The $59,800(C) final is set for next Friday, April 12.

The first division features a newcomer to the Youthful as Apaches Fame winner In The Irons (post position 3, driver Phil Hudon, 2-1 in the morning line) will take some beating. The bay Mach Three colt was second to Cam Cool in the two preliminary divisions of the Apaches Fame, but turned the tables on final night, March 23, with a sharp off-the-pace score in 1:53.2.

In the Irons had the week off, but is in fine form for trainer Randy Hill, who also owns a piece of the New York bred.

Radio City (9, Rick Zeron, 3-1) and Crown Heights (7, Randall Waples, 4-1) were second and fifth, respectively, in the opening leg (second division) of the Youthful behind Trimline.

Crown Heights should improve in his second race off a 7 1/2–month layoff from the races for trainer Dean Nixon. The bay Matt's Scooter colt did show some lick down the lane (:27.1 final clip) when beaten only three lengths in the 2007 debut.

Radio City is a well-regarded prospect. The Artsplace colt was two-for-two heading into his nearly race-long duel loss to Trimline in 1:54.1. A bounce-back win is likely if Zeron can negotiate a good trip from the nine hole for the Bill Elliott-trainee.

Rounding out the field in the first division is Allamerican Danube (1, Mike Saftic, 20-1), Live for Today (2, Jack Moiseyev, 20-1), Daylon Chance (4, Brad Forward, 8-1), Inform (5, Mario Baillargeon, 15-1), Ruthless Ace (6, Steve Condren, 9-2) and Always Ready (8, Jody Jamieson, 20-1).

In the second division, the two favorites, Crazy Dan and Heaven Touched, line up side-by-each in posts five and six, respectively.

Crazy Dan (5, Mario Baillergeon, 7-2), a Cambest colt, was coming off a five-week layoff when finishing second to Cam Cool in his Youthful opener and stakes debut in 1:53.4. The Ben Wallace trainee will likely be on the lead with his sharp early speed and improved fitness, and tough to chase down late.

Heaven Touched (6, Luc Ouellette, 5-2) is the morning-line choice based on his strong races in the Count B series, where he notched two wins and a second-place finish in the final to his Youthful rival, I’ll be Seeing You (7, Jody Jamieson, 5-1).

The Artsplace gelding was third, beaten 2 ¼ lengths, in his Youthful opener (the quickest of the three divisions; 1:53.2) to Tell All, for trainer Duane Marfisi.

The rest of the field in the second division shapes this way: Transcending (1, Jack Moiseyev, 7-1), Amerifin Idol (2, Mark MacDonald, 8-1), Gascon Hanover (3, Rick Zeron, 6-1), Casual Motion (4, Dave Boughton, 10-1), Haverford (8, Steve Condren, 8-1) and Dade Hall (9, Tony Haughan, 10-1). (WEG)

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