Yonkers: Can Foiled Again be defeated in the Levy Memorial series?

If there is anything that’s been learned during the first three weeks of preliminary action in the George Morton Levy Series at Yonkers, it’s that 10-year-olds are not at a disadvantage versus four-year-olds. Foiled Again didn’t just pick up where he left off, he returned with a vengeance and has proven to be unbeatable thus far, and likely will pass the fourth round on Saturday night unblemished.

That said, one has to wonder whether anyone in the current assemblage of stablemates and those attempting to raise their game to an extraordinary level, have the capabilities of upending Foiled Again come April 26’s rich final.

“Unless he gets a bad post and impossible trip, I don’t see how he’s going to get beat,” said Tim Tetrick, the pilot of two-leg winner Mach It So.

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“I need to race my horse to get a trip. I can’t just go out there and rough it like Foiled Again,” Tetrick said of Mach It So, a four-year-old from the P J Fraley stable that has emerged this spring over the half-mile track.

“He’s on another level,” said Tetrick, in reverence to Foiled Again.

Mach It So will be in search of locking up a spot in the final this week, as he drew the pole position in the fifth race, second division of the Levy on Saturday. Mach It So will meet fellow double-leg winner Easy Again (post two), representing the overloaded Burke stable.

Last week, Mach It So rallied sharply from well back to finish second to Apprentice Hanover in a contentious division. The son of Mach Three has been ultra-consistent, but Tetrick doesn’t necessarily see his game elevated from a year ago. “He paced in 49 and change for me last year at Pocono. The only difference this year is that he’s in with a tougher group,” said Tetrick of the three-year-old Open on Breeders Crown night last October.

Tetrick will have to deal with three horses from the Burke stable in his division, with Hillbilly Hanover (post five) and Aracache Hanover (post seven) joining Easy Again.

In the first Levy division Saturday (race four), Burke has three going forward, with multiple leg winner Itrustyou hoping to rebound and the classy Clear Vision looking to build up points to at least qualify for the consolation.

Foiled Again drew post three in the final $50,000 division, but will meet a host of credible foes. P H Supercam, a close runner-up to the champ last week, landed post two, a favorable striking position should there be an early pace.

This field also includes Dancin Yankee, a half-mile track specialist that has a second, third and fourth in three legs of action. He will need a win to give him a chance of reaching the final. Dancin Yankee came from far back to finish a solid second to Easy Again in third round action.

Another horse with a legitimate chance in this field, of course, is Bettors Edge. Along with his stablemate Foiled Again, this one has gone through three legs of competition without a loss. That streak is in jeopardy with Bettors Edge drawing post four alongside Foiled Again behind the starting gate.

Apprentice Hanover, an impressive winner in third round action took this week off, but will likely return for next week’s final preliminary round.

Tetrick appeared to be happy with the progress of Anndrovette after the champion mare regained winning form in last week’s third leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker.

“She caught a break when the pocket opened up at the three-quarters,” said Tetrick. “But she did finish it off.”

“She’s getting older and it may be showing,” said Tetrick, who still holds confidence in his mare. Unlike in the Levy where Foiled Again always looms large, Anndrovette won’t be up against unbeatable mares and that has to bolster her chances.

Needless to say, Anndrovette will again have to overcome a post obstacle on Friday. Last week she won from post eight, this week she landed post six with leg winners Rocklamation (post one) and Angels Delight (post two) inside, and last year’s champion Feeling You (post four) and third-place finisher Camille (post five) in the stacked field.

Last year Anndrovette finished second in the final. She’s going to need a solid effort this week to earn a spot in this year’s big dance.