Yonkers: Art Rooney, Lismore eliminations in the books

Air Force Hanover and Bettor's Wish bagged the two $40,000 Art Rooney eliminations for sophomore pacing males on Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway, while Annie Hill and Queen Of The Pride got the job done in the $20,000 eliminations for the companion Lismore for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

With David Miller in the bike, Air Force Hanover appeared to be strolling his way to a comfortable win in the first elimination after rolling through fractions of 27 4/5, 56 2/5, and 1:24 2/5, but Buddy Hill (Brian Sears) closed strongly two-wide in the lane and almost got there, falling just a neck short in a 1:52 4/5 mile. Price Hanover (Daniel Dube) was the third-place finisher, and Captain Malicious (Mark MacDonald) made the final by holding fourth.

A Somebeachsomewhere colt, Air Force Hanover is trained by Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo, and W.J. Donovan. This was his fifth career win, and he has now earned $166,888. He returned $2.20 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

In the other Rooney elim, Bettor's Wish (Dexter Dunn) was able to get to the front around Blood Money (Scott Zeron), and that ended up being key as Bettor's Wish was able to put up stations of 28, 57 2/5, and 1:26 1/5 on his way to a 1 1/4 length win in 1:53 2/5. Blood Money closed belatedly from the pocket and was a clear second, with Rollwithpapajoe (Joe Bongiorno) and a rebuffed from first-over Branquinho (Tyler Buter) also advancing to the final.

Bettor's Wish is a Bettor's Delight colt co-owned by trainer Chris Ryder and partners Bella Racing Ltd., Fair Island Farm Inc., and Kenneth Solomon. Bettor's Wish is now a seven-time winner from 14 attempts, and he boosted his bankroll to $302,056. He was the 3-2 second choice and paid $5.00 to win.

With the scratch of Brooklyn Lilacs from the first Lismore elim, all four fillies left moved on to the final, and 2-5 favorite Annie Hill (Sears) would win from first-over in 1:55 4/5 despite lugging out some in the lane. As Time Goes By (Jordan Stratton) led to the 29 4/5 opening quarter, 59 4/5 half, and 1:27 3/5 three-quarters, but wound up second, with Privacy Hanover (Jason Bartlett) third and Mi Nina Bonita (Brent Holland) fourth.

Annie Hill, a filly by Captaintreacherous, is owned by Tom Hill and trained by Chris Oakes. She made her sixth appearance in the winner's circle and has put away $98,169. She returned $2.90 to win.

Queen Of The Pride (Stratton), fresh off a win in her Reynolds division last week in Westchester, took control at the 27 2/5 first quarter-mile mark in the other Lismore elim, then backed down the half to 56 seconds. A persistent Bestseller Hanover (Bartlett) challenged her on the rim to three-quarters in 1:24 4/5, around the final bend, and into the lane, but Queen Of The Pride was well-within-herself to win by three-parts of a length in 1:53 2/5. Rockn Philly (Victor Kirby) came on to get third, and Rock N Mcroll (Dube) got fourth.

Trained by Kevin Lare for owner Frank Chick, Queen Of The Pride is a daughter of McArdle. She now sports a record of 10-4-3 from 20 trips behind the gate, and she has stashed away $442,479. The 1-5 choice, Queen Of The Pride paid $2.40 to win.