Saratoga Harness: Dancin Yankee sets track record in Gerrity

Records were made to be broken and Dancin Yankee came to Saratoga Raceway and Casino primed for a big mile in the $260,000 Joe Gerrity, Jr. Memorial on Saturday night.

Driver Tyler Buter gunned Dancin Yankee off the wings of the gate and quickly took charge with a speedy quarter in 25 4/5. Heston Blue Chip got away in second with Foiled Again tucking third.

The outer flow developed approaching the half when Foiled Again came to the rim just before the second call in 53 4/5. Dancin Yankee kept the pedal to the medal down the backstretch with a sizzling 27 1/5 third panel while facing mild pressure from Foiled Again, who was towing P H Supercam into the action.

Despite the fast pace, there was no catching Dancin Yankee in the Gerrity. Buter asked him for more at the head of the lane and the 6-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser accelerated away from the field to win by 3 1/4 lengths over Heston Blue Chip and a brave Foiled Again.

The final time of 1:48 4/5 was the fastest in the track's history, besting the 1:49 mark set by Bolt The Duer in the Gerrity Memorial last year.

“I was going into the last turn and I hadn’t even pulled the plugs yet. I know when you pull his plugs he explodes,” said Buter about Dancin Yankee. “Halfway down the lane I asked him to go and he just took off.”

Derick Giwner Amber and Tyler Buter

Trainer Amber Buter thought home cooking was a big difference-maker in Dancin Yankee improving off his disappointing fifth-place finish last week in the Dan Patch at Hoosier Park.

“He was a lot different horse tonight. Probably being at home helped him a lot,” said Amber Buter, who had yet to pick Dancin Yankee’s next race.

Dancin Yankee paid $3.90 to win. He is owned by Baron Racing Stable and Richard Lombardo.