Yonkers: Bettor's Wish cruises in Rooney, Bestseller Hanover upsets in Lismore

Bettor's Wish and driver Dexter Dunn blew away the field in the $300,000 Art Rooney at Yonkers on Saturday night, winning by open lengths.

The Rooney kicked off to a fast start with four horses leaving hard, including Bettor's Wish and Blood Money from posts six and seven. Blood Money and Scott Zeron were the fastest and first to the front off the turn, with favored Bettor's Wish relegated to the pocket early as the field hit the quarter in 27 seconds flat.

Blood Money was solid on the lead in a 55 4/5 half when Rollwithpapajoe and Joe Bongiorno began to move, followed by Branquinho with Tyler Buter. On the third turn Rollwithpapajoe made a break, and once off that turn Brian Sears looked to come out from third with Buddy Hill. Driver Dunn was sitting chilly with Bettor's Wish, and when he saw the outer tier approaching, he popped the pocket nearing the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters and quickly went by the winner, opening up an insurmountable lead on the final turn.

A 27 3/5 final quarter finished off the season's-best 1:51 4/5 mark. Branquinho had an adventurous trip, having to check early and again on the third turn but finished gamely for second, with Air Force Hanover, who was saddled with post eight, sweeping everyone but the top two for the show spot.

Bettor's Wish, trained and co-owned by Chris Ryder along with Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm and Ken Solomon, returned $3.70 as the betting choice.

"I'm glad I had Dexter as a driver," said Ryder after the victory.

"When I heard we drew six I wasn't happy," said Dunn. "When I found out Blood Money and Air Force Hanover drew seven and eight I felt better.

"It could have been a bad move when I pulled the pocket, but he got the job done."

In the $109,234 Lismore final for sophomore pacing fillies, driver Jason Bartlett blasted out of the gate with Bestseller Hanover, looping 1-9 favorite Queen Of The Pride in the process and taking the lead on the first turn en route to a 1:54 4/5 wire-to-wire victory.

Bartlett had the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere at the quarter in 28 2/5 and the half in 58 before Queen Of The Pride and Jordan Stratton became engaged and took up the charge without cover. The fillies battled hard through a 27 3/5 third quarter with Bestseller Hanover maintaining the advantage and Queen Of The Pride putting in steps that would eventually see her blow up on the final turn and lose her stride.

With her main rival left in the dust, Bartlett let his filly go, and she completed the mile with a 29 1/5 final quarter as As Time Goes By rallied for second and Rockn Philly closed for third.

Owned by Millar Farms and trained by Scott Blackler, Bestseller Hanover was a 6-1 offering while winning for the first time in three 2019 starts.

"I raced against her (Queen Of The Pride) a couple of times and noticed that Jordan had to hold onto her in the turns," said Bartlett. "She scored down well and was right on her toes leaving."