Yonkers, NY --- The Empire's glamour division was once again on display Saturday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $229,492 Jim Crawford Pace, a New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
Four divisions went postward, with Overnight Delight (Cat Manzi) wiring the lone ($58,198) division on the betting portion of the card.
Leaving from the pole, Overnight Delight stuffed China King (Stephane Bouchard) in behind, then put up fractions of :28.1, :58, 1:26.1 and 1:54.3 … a life-best effort. The back half turned into a match race with a stubborn Lucky Cadet (Jason Bartlett), the latter coming up a schnozz shy. American Romance (Jordan Stratton), as the 19-10 favorite, was third, beaten by more than four lengths.
Overnight Delight, a son of Dream Away co-owned by trainer Paul Jessop and Donato Falcicchio, returned $9.00 as the third choice for his fifth win in 15 season’s starts. The Exacta paid $31.00, with the Triple returning $66.00.
"The best thing about him is the way he can get away from the gate, and I had a chance to take advantage of it,” Manzi said. "We were able to rate a bit in the middle, and he was tough when the other horse (Lucky Cadet) took his shot."
Three other $57,098 divisions were won by:
American Rage (American Ideal), co-owned by Randy Bendis, Michael Novosel, Jr., Reed Broadway, trained by Ed Hart and driven by Jordan Stratton, who won in 1:53.4;
Mojo Terror (Western Terror), owned by Bulletproof Enterprises, trained by Chris Oakes and driven by Eric Goodell to a 1:54.1 win, and
JK Camelot (Art Major), co-owned by Jeffrey Baimond and Scott Alberg, trained by Mark Kesmodel and driven by Eric Goodell to a life-best 1:53 victory.
Saturday night's $52,000 Open Handicap pace was won by the 9-10 favorite, Clear Vision (Jason Bartlett, $3.90), holding-off the fast-closing Forest Vic A (Steve Smith) and getting the 1-1/16 miles in 1:58.4.
The New York Sire Stakes will continue on Monday night with the $243,176 Michael Sorentino Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings and on Tuesday night with the $253,560 Tuckahoe Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings.