Yonkers Raceway Race 7

Race 7

Stake: $76,139

VERDUN (3) drew a wide gate last start and was never a genuine threat, beaten 18 metres into eighth at this track over 1609m. Primary contender from this favourable draw if anywhere near his best. STERLING CHOICE (1) finished second last start, beaten 2.25 metres at this track over 1609m. Capable of playing a major role so has to be respected. HOWLENTHEHILLS (5) was responsible for a better effort last time out when third over 1609m at this track. Should run a big race. GORGEOUS BIG GUY (4) must be included after winning his past two starts, the latest at this track two weeks ago.

Distance: 1609m
Track: fast
Weather: overcast
Surface: All Weather
Class: 3-6 YO OPN

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Sterling Choice (Fr1) 4134162272
Trainer: Jared Bako ()
Driver: Jason Bartlett
Prize Money: $795,754
Win / Place: 28% / 68%

Track / Distance Specialist

4 yo Roan Horse

Sire: BETTERTHANCHEDDAR (USA)

Dam: PLATINUM CHOICE

Rating

Stats

Career

38: 11-9-6

Distance

38: 11-9-6

Trk/Dst

14: 8-3-0

Track

14: 8-3-0

Season

10: 1-4-1

1st Up

3: 0-1-1

2nd Up

3: 1-1-1

3rd Up

3: 1-0-1

Mobile

0: 0-0-0

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

38: 11-9-6

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:50.40

Driver Stats

Comments

Improved last start with a good run when 2nd (Fr1) over 1609m at this track beaten 2.25 m by Downbythewater (1:51.20) in NW30000L5 on June 22 at $2.46. Capable of testing this line-up.

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
2nd of 6	22/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Colin Kelly	1:51.20	1:51.20	0.86L	$2.46	7	NW30000L5	$56,151	$14,037	1. Downbythewater 2. Sterling Choice 3. Captain Moore
7th of 8	15/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr8	Jason Bartlett	1:51.00	1:51.00	15.06L	$30	14	3-6 YO OPN	$73,166	-	1. Sweet Beach Life 2. Verdun 3. Captain Moore
2nd of 8	1/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr5	Jason Bartlett	1:51.30	1:51.30	1.97L	$4.58	7	NW20000L5	$42,539	$10,635	1. Verdun 2. Sterling Choice 3. Iknowbetter
2nd of 7	25/5/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr2	Jason Bartlett	1:53.00	1:53.00	1.41L	$3.64	9	NW23931L5	$42,598	$10,649	1. Captinhammerhead 2. Sterling Choice 3. Joemikiyoursofine
6th of 7	16/5/26	Pocono Downs	1609m		All Weather	Fr7	Braxten Boyd	1:50.00	1:50.00	5.02L	$48	25	WO25000LT	$46,858	-	1. Lou Grant 2. Soho Santorini 3. Voukefalas
1st of 8	21/4/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr3	Jason Bartlett	1:52.20	1:52.20	1.12L	$2.46	8	NW24291L5	$44,396	$22,198	1. Sterling Choice 2. Boston Bound 3. Kwick Sand

Captain Moore A (Fr2) 5366515133
Trainer: Scott Blackler (Burrumbeet)
Driver: Brent Holland
Prize Money: $475,101
Win / Place: 33% / 66%

Distance Specialist

4 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: SOHO LANIKAI (AUS)

Dam: OUR CHELSEA GIRL (NZ)

Rating

Stats

Career

48: 16-6-10

Distance

37: 13-3-9

Trk/Dst

29: 9-3-6

Track

31: 10-3-6

Season

15: 3-1-4

1st Up

3: 0-2-0

2nd Up

3: 2-1-0

3rd Up

3: 2-0-0

Mobile

12: 4-3-2

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

48: 16-6-10

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:50.30

Driver Stats

Gear Changes

Lasix

Comments

Racing consistently with minor placings at his last two starts at this course. Placed last start 3rd (Fr6) over 1609m at this track, beaten 5 m by Downbythewater (1:51.20) in NW30000L5 on June 22 at $4.07. Before that 3rd (Fr1) over 1609m at this track, beaten 11 m by Sweet Beach Life (1:51.00) in 3-6 YO OPN on June 15 at $4.66. Not doing enough.

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
3rd of 6	22/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr6	Tyler Buter	1:51.20	1:51.20	1.97L	$4.07	7	NW30000L5	$56,151	$6,738	1. Downbythewater 2. Sterling Choice 3. Captain Moore
3rd of 8	15/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Scott Zeron	1:51.00	1:51.00	4.20L	$4.66	7	3-6 YO OPN	$73,166	$8,780	1. Sweet Beach Life 2. Verdun 3. Captain Moore
1st of 8	8/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr7	Scott Zeron	1:52.40	1:52.40	4.76L	$1.26f	7	NW16841L5	$39,135	$19,568	1. Captain Moore 2. None Bettor 3. Coalford Topguy Gb
5th of 8	1/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr7	Scott Zeron	1:51.30	1:51.30	3.90L	$10	7	NW20000L5	$42,539	$2,126	1. Verdun 2. Sterling Choice 3. Iknowbetter
1st of 8	25/5/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Jason Bartlett	1:52.20	1:52.20	0.56L	$1.23f	17	NW15001L5	$35,783	$17,891	1. Captain Moore 2. Best Chip 3. Ima Perfect Choice
5th of 8	8/5/26	Yonkers Raceway	2012m		All Weather	Fr5	Yannick Gingras	2:21.40	2:21.40	7.55L	$4.60	11	BORG C	$170,391	$8,519	1. Sweet Beach Life 2. Celtic Spirit 3. Aye Aye Captain

Verdun (Fr3) 6752121128
Trainer: Pat Lachance ()
Driver: Pat Lachance
Prize Money: $1,506,705
Win / Place: 25% / 63%

6 yo Bay Horse

Sire: BETTOR'S DELIGHT (USA)

Dam: POP GOES THEWEASEL

Rating

Stats

Career

103: 26-21-18

Distance

100: 26-19-18

Trk/Dst

63: 18-15-12

Track

66: 18-17-12

Season

16: 3-5-1

1st Up

3: 1-1-0

2nd Up

3: 1-1-1

3rd Up

3: 0-1-2

Mobile

0: 0-0-0

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

103: 26-21-18

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:50.40

Driver Stats

Gear Changes

Lasix

Comments

Last start was well beaten into eighth behind Mossdale Ben at this track over 1609m in a INVITATION on June 29 at $39.92. Performed better the start before with a good run when 2nd (Fr3) over 1609m at this track beaten 11 m by Sweet Beach Life (1:51.00) in 3-6 YO OPN on June 15 at $4.37. One of the key runners.

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
8th of 8	29/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr8	Pat Lachance	1:51.40	1:51.40	6.99L	$40	14	INVITATION	$76,139	-	1. Mossdale Ben 2. Soho Firestone 3. Donegal Luther
2nd of 8	15/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr3	Pat Lachance	1:51.00	1:51.00	4.20L	$4.37	7	3-6 YO OPN	$73,166	$18,291	1. Sweet Beach Life 2. Verdun 3. Captain Moore
1st of 6	8/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Pat Lachance	1:51.10	1:51.10	0.33L	$2.49	7	INVITATION	$73,166	$36,583	1. Verdun 2. Young Bluey 3. Captinhammerhead
1st of 8	1/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr2	Pat Lachance	1:51.30	1:51.30	1.97L	$1.61f	6	NW20000L5	$42,539	$21,269	1. Verdun 2. Sterling Choice 3. Iknowbetter
2nd of 8	26/5/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr5	Pat Lachance	1:51.20	1:51.20	1.12L	$3.53	7	NW22001L5	$42,539	$10,635	1. Little Willy 2. Verdun 3. Jabbar
1st of 7	19/5/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr3	Pat Lachance	1:51.20	1:51.20	2.53L	$2.03f	8	NW16376L5	$35,783	$17,891	1. Verdun 2. Railroad Station 3. Invisible

Gorgeous Big Guy (Fr4) 5143241811
Trainer: Ron Burke ()
Driver: Tyler Buter
Prize Money: $912,570
Win / Place: 30% / 72%

Going for the Hat-Trick

5 yo Bay Horse

Sire: ASHLEE'S BIG GUY

Dam: GORGEOUS RANGER

100

Rating

Stats

Career

65: 20-16-11

Distance

65: 20-16-11

Trk/Dst

3: 2-0-0

Track

3: 2-0-0

Season

14: 4-1-2

1st Up

4: 3-0-1

2nd Up

4: 3-0-0

3rd Up

4: 3-1-0

Mobile

0: 0-0-0

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

65: 20-16-11

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:49.20

Driver Stats

Gear Changes

Lasix

Comments

Chasing a hat-trick. Last start posted a big 8 m win (Fr1) at this track (1:52.00) beating Downbythewater in NW20000L5 on June 30 at $3.10. Hard to leave out on current form. Each-way chance.

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
1st of 8	30/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Yannick Gingras	1:52.00	1:52.00	3.09L	$3.10	7	NW20000L5	$49,580	$24,789	1. Gorgeous Big Guy 2. Downbythewater 3. Kwick Sand
1st of 6	23/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr3	Tyler Buter	1:52.10	1:52.10	0.33L	$7.20	8	NW16041L5	$39,135	$19,568	1. Gorgeous Big Guy 2. Kwick Sand 3. Zebs Krafty
8th of 8	15/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr7	Jim Marohn (Jnr)	1:51.00	1:51.00	27.06L	$80	10	3-6 YO OPN	$73,166	-	1. Sweet Beach Life 2. Verdun 3. Captain Moore
1st of 9	5/6/26	Hoosier Park	1609m		All Weather	Fr6	Marcus Miller	1:49.40	1:49.40	0.86L	$4.50	7	OPEN 3	$27,224	$13,613	1. Gorgeous Big Guy 2. Tellmeaboutit 3. Ponda Ferarri
4th of 7	29/5/26	Hoosier Park	1609m		All Weather	Fr3	Marcus Miller	1:48.10	1:48.10	5.32L	$3.20	7	OPEN 2-3	$30,628	$2,450	1. Rip Wheeler 2. Shooting In Place 3. Yourwishisgranted
2nd of 9	22/5/26	Hoosier Park	1609m		All Weather	Fr6	Marcus Miller	1:50.40	1:50.40	1.67L	$3.50	7	OPEN 4	$23,855	$5,963	1. Golden Bay 2. Gorgeous Big Guy 3. Downbytheocean

Howlenthehills (Fr5) x323127443
Trainer: Travis Alexander ()
Driver: Matt Kakaley
Prize Money: $1,554,603
Win / Place: 31% / 70%

Recent Trial Winner

5 yo Bay Horse

Sire: AMERICAN IDEAL (USA)

Dam: ARIELLE LYNN

Rating

Stats

Career

54: 17-9-12

Distance

53: 17-9-12

Trk/Dst

28: 7-5-8

Track

29: 7-5-8

Season

9: 1-2-3

1st Up

4: 1-0-1

2nd Up

4: 2-2-0

3rd Up

4: 1-0-3

Mobile

0: 0-0-0

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

54: 17-9-12

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:50.10

Driver Stats

Gear Changes

Lasix

Comments

Two back was beaten by 9 m finishing fourth behind Verdun at this track over 1609m in a INVITATION on June 8 at $16.29. Then a handy effort when beaten by 4 m finishing third behind Catalpa Rescue at this track over 1609m in a INVITATION on June 15 at $7.06. Progressing well. Top prospects.

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
1st of 4	8/7/26	Pocono Downs	1609m			-	Ridge Warren	1:52.20	1:52.20	0.56L	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Howlenthehills 2. Smiffy's Terror 3. Take A Closer Look
3rd of 6	15/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr3	Matt Kakaley	1:52.20	1:52.20	1.41L	$7.06	7	INVITATION	$73,166	$8,780	1. Catalpa Rescue 2. Dandy Ideal 3. Howlenthehills
4th of 6	8/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr5	Matt Kakaley	1:51.10	1:51.10	3.64L	$16	15	INVITATION	$73,166	$5,854	1. Verdun 2. Young Bluey 3. Captinhammerhead
4th of 5	24/5/26	Philadelphia	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Matt Kakaley	1:50.10	1:50.10	3.09L	$2.50	16	OPEN	$42,598	$3,407	1. Young Bluey 2. Redwood Hanover 3. Spring Blake
7th of 8	8/5/26	Yonkers Raceway	2012m		All Weather	Fr8	Matt Kakaley	2:21.40	2:21.40	6.69L	$49	11	BORG F-G2	$814,470	-	1. Captain Albano 2. Huntinthelastdolar 3. Coaches Corner
2nd of 7	27/4/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr5	Matt Kakaley	1:51.10	1:51.10	1.41L	$17	7	BORG #5	$88,792	$22,198	1. Coaches Corner 2. Howlenthehills 3. Aye Aye Captain

Escape To America (Fr6) 3354551113
Trainer: Deborah Daguet ()
Driver: Colin Kelly
Prize Money: $573,426
Win / Place: 19% / 47%

5 yo Bay Horse

Sire: AMERICAN IDEAL (USA)

Dam: FLIRTISCAPE

Rating

Stats

Career

82: 16-12-11

Distance

82: 16-12-11

Trk/Dst

62: 9-8-11

Track

62: 9-8-11

Season

20: 5-1-5

1st Up

3: 0-0-0

2nd Up

3: 0-3-0

3rd Up

3: 2-0-0

Mobile

0: 0-0-0

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

82: 16-12-11

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:50.40

Driver Stats

Comments

Last start 3rd (Fr3) over 1609m at this track beaten 2.25 m by Banderas (1:53.00) in NW23671L5 on June 30 at $4.63. Two runs back won by a 0.9 m as favourite (Fr5) at this track (1:52.30) beating American Dealer in NW15000L5 on June 22 at $1.51. Impossible to entertain.

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
3rd of 8	30/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr3	Colin Kelly	1:53.00	1:53.00	0.86L	$4.63	8	NW23671L5	$49,580	$5,950	1. Banderas 2. Aye Aye Captain 3. Escape To America
1st of 8	22/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr5	Colin Kelly	1:52.30	1:52.30	0.33L	$1.51f	7	NW15000L5	$39,135	$19,568	1. Escape To America 2. American Dealer 3. Bondi Lockdown
1st of 8	15/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr6	Colin Kelly	1:52.00	1:52.00	5.87L	$2.36f	7	NW10981L5	$35,733	$17,866	1. Escape To America 2. Printville 3. Music Hall
1st of 7	8/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr3	Colin Kelly	1:52.00	1:52.00	1.97L	$1.73f	7	NW7771L5	$32,329	$16,165	1. Escape To America 2. T H Tyson 3. Speculating
5th of 8	1/6/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr7	Colin Kelly	1:53.20	1:53.20	3.35L	$106	7	NW10000L5	$32,329	$1,617	1. American Dealer 2. Ima Perfect Choice 3. Gingras Beach
5th of 8	25/5/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr5	Colin Kelly	1:52.20	1:52.20	3.35L	$35	7	NW15001L5	$35,783	$1,789	1. Captain Moore 2. Best Chip 3. Ima Perfect Choice

Race Review Abbreviations

Brk: Broke, Blkd: Blocked or held up, 1 x 1: One-out, one-back, Prkd: Parked, 3bk otr: 3 back on the outer, 3bk inr: 3 back on the inside, two horses behind the leader, trld: Trailed, Gt spd: Showed gate speed, 3wd: 3-wide postd: Caught wide without cover, Held up: Held up, no gaps or few gaps: If they don't see any clear air in the straight, Inr-mid-wd -position: On the inside, mid = 1-off, wd = 3-wide or wider, flew hm wd: Flew home wide, dashd inr: Sprinted well on the inside, Chkd: Checked, Slow: Slow away at the start, Wltd: Wilted or got tired, Fdd: Faded late, Urgd: driver asking horse for extra effort

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