Yonkers, NY --- Yonkers Raceway's Saturday fare offered four, $50,000 divisions in the fifth and final preliminary round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series … and the gang from Delmarva went home happy.
Trainer George Teague and driver Corey Callahan teamed to win the first three events, more than offsetting any Jersey Turnpike toll increases.
Mr Wiggles was a first-up, first division winner in 1:53, matching last week's effort. Leaving from post position No. 4, he moved from fifth and went after Pangiorno (Dan Dube). That one had an eventful trip, suffering an early interference break when the 11-10 favorite Atochia (Jason Bartlett) pulled the pocket late.
Mr Wiggles eventually whipped Atochia by a length, with the latter being set down to fourth for that ill-timed move. Corky Baran (Pat Lachance) was third-placed-second, with Pangiorno fouth-placed-third.
Mr Wiggles, a millionaire 4-year-old son of Badlands Hanover co-owned by (trainer) George Teague and Elmer Fannin, returned $5.40 as the second choice for his second consecutive win in five season’s starts. The Exacta paid $60.50, with the Triple returning $227.50 and the superfecta paid $464.50.
"He already had qualified the final, so I wanted to race him from off the pace," Callahan said. "I thought someone might take a shot moving in front of me, but it didn't happen.
"I know George is going to have two in the final, but this horse has been so good to me, I have to stay with him ... even if he draws the eight hole."
Trainer and driver doubled their pleasure in the second event, as Southwind Lynx -- part of the odds-on entry -- just did pick off a stubborn leader in Wholly Louy (Brett Miller), in 1:52.1. Badlands Nitro (Jordan Stratton), the other half of the pari-mutuel partnership, finished third. Special Report (Larry Stalbaum) was fourth, though his number completed the triple.
Southwind Lynx, a 6-year-old Real Artist gelding co-owned by Teague and K&R Racing, returned $2.50 for his fifth win in nine season’s starts. The Exacta paid $5.00, with the Triple returning $19.00.
"I know Brett (Miller) was trying to get away from me down the backside, but we were able to close the gap around the last turn," Callahan said. "That horse dug in, but 'Lynx' always finishes well. He doesn't always corner that well, but he was better tonight."
Chasin Racin offered a 19-1 upset in the evening's third grouping, tracking a hot pace (:26.4, 55.3, 1:23.3) from second-over and prevailing in a season's-best 1:52.2. The second choice, Jeremy's Successor (Tyler Buter), and the people's choice, River Shark (Daniel Dube), duked it out before Chasin Racin rolled past River Shark by 1-1/2 lengths. Legal Litigator (David Miller) rallied for third.
Chasin Racin, a 4-year-old son of The Panderosa co-owned by Teague and Fannin, returned $41.80 as the sixth choice for his second win in five season’s starts. The Exacta paid $200.00, with the Triple returning $1,089.00.
"At the three-quarter pole, I was licking my chops," Callahan said. "I knew Tyler's horse (Jeremy's Successor) was done, and I felt I could go by Dan's (River Shark).
"This colt has the talent. He won the second week of this series and I overdrove him the next start when he made an early break. Tonight, everything worked out."
Callahan added a couple of overnight wins for good measure, giving him five victories in seven drives on the evening.
Points leader, pole-sitter, defending series champ and prohibitive favorite Foiled Again, driven by Jason Bartlett, celebrating his 29th birthday, went the distance in the final preliminary event, in 1:52.3. Go Go Solano (David Miller) closed from the back of the bus to grab second, beaten a couple of lengths, with Psilvuheartbreaker (Daniel Dube) third and Western Ace (Corey Callahan) fourth.