Yonkers: American History equals all-age track record

American History (Joe Bongiorno, $2.30) matched Yonkers Raceway’s all-age track record Saturday night (Sept. 28th), dusting an age-restricted handicap field in 1:49 3/5.

Assigned outside his five rivals in the $35,000 fifth race pace, American History floated into a four-hole as Turbo Hill (Eric Goodell) laid down a flat 27 second opening quarter-mile and a 55 1/5 intermission.

American History then went after the leader, the tandem throwing it down in a 26 4/5 third quarter (1:22). He then put away Turbo Hill shortly thereafter, taking a length lead into the lane. After some driver encouragement, American History widened, whipping 36-1 outsider Ideal Flip (Brent Holland) by three lengths. Turbo Hill and Tiger Baron (George Brennan) rounded out the gimmick finishers.

Fresh off his win in Harrington’s Quillen Memorial—in an identical 1:49 3/5—American History won his fourth race in 15 seasonal starts. The 4-year-old son of American Ideal is co-owned by breeder Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, and American History Racing and trained by Tony Alagna.

“He’s scary fast,” Bongiorno said. “He probably went a 26 1/5 third quarter, and I never had to pull the plugs. There’s no telling just how much he can go in his next start at Lexington.”

The exacta paid $41, the triple returned $249, and the superfecta paid $523.

Saturday’s effort equaled Theartofconfusion’s (Austin Siegelman) track record from four weeks ago. It also set a new record for American History’s weight class, displacing himself (1:50) from five weeks ago.

Saturday night’s pair of $42,000 Open Handicaps were won by…

--Pace, None Bettor (Jason Bartlett, $3) in 1:50 4/5,

--Trot, Rich And Miserable (Tyler Buter, $7.30) in 1:53 4/5.

Rich And Miserable set a track record for 4-year-old geldings, eclipsing Lord Cromwell (1:54 1/5), taken last October.

--press release (Yonkers)--