Yonkers: Doctor Butch takes no prisoners in $275k Rooney Final

Trainer Linda Toscano has made a big name for herself over the last two years with Hambletonian winners and Horse of the Year trotters. On Saturday night it was her two sophomore pacers that made headlines in a pair of Yonkers Raceway’s signature stakes events. Doctor Butch, a supplemental entry, responded for driver George Brennan to capture the $275,000 Art Rooney final and J K Black Beauty, rallied for Brian Sears to score in the $117,060 Lismore for three-year-old pacing fillies.

Doctor Butch came up short in his elimination a week earlier, but new driver George Brennan had complete confidence in the Art Major colt, sending him full throttle at the start to secure the front on the first turn ahead of Good Day Mate. Brennan didn’t put the brakes on until after he crossed the opening quarter in a snappy 27 seconds.

The Jimmy Takter-trained entry of Sunfire Blue Chip and Source Of Pride were sent off as the favorites. Source Of Pride moved into the three hole past the start while his entrymate, Sunfire Blue Chip with Dan Dube, stalked him in fourth and waited patiently for cover to develop. That allowed Brennan to slow the pace markedly to a sensible 56 seconds.

Brennan did with Doctor Butch what he’s done for hundreds of horses over the Yonkers half-mile track. The pair jetted away down the backstretch and Source Of Pride and Dave Miller tried to advance without cover but was unable to make headway.

It was clear sailing for Doctor Butch through a third quarter in 1:23 2/5 as Good Day Mate struggled to keep pace and an outer tier flow hampered the other contenders.

The real battle proved for place, as Lonewolf Currier defied logic rallying wide from fourth over and stormed on the far outside to grab the place spot with his final quarter clocked in :26 1/5. Sir Carys Z Tam took the inside route finishing third.

Doctor Butch won for the ninth time in his brief career in a personal best 1:51 2/5 clocking, just two ticks off Pet Rock’s Rooney record and paid $6.90 as the second choice. Ken Jacobs owns the colt, who will likely start next in a New York Sire Stakes event according to trainer Toscano.

J K Black Beauty gave owners 3 Brother Stable their second Lismore title in the past three years, scoring out of the pocket for driver Brian Sears. The lightly-raced daughter of Bettors Delight followed pole-sitter Mattwestern at the start and maintained the pocket easily as Handsoffmycupcake made a miscue while vying for the early lead.

Mattwestern set all of the fractions rating kindly through :28 4/5, :57 4/5 and 1:26 1/5 three quarter numbers, but the Ron Burke-trained filly didn’t have it in the homestretch, allowing J K Black Beauty ample room to move inside and get the decision. Freetime, the 3-2 favorite as part of the Scott DiDomenico trained-entry, rallied for second. Third place finisher Offinthesunset was disqualified after causing interference in the homestretch with Aria J. Mattwestern was moved up to third.

J K Black Beauty returned $9.70 as the third choice in the seven-filly field.