Yonkers: Dr J Hanover, Rockin Ron repeat in Levy Series action

Dr J Hanover served notice on Saturday night that he could be a horse that won't be caught in the George Morton Levy Series. The 5-year-old gelding again went wire-to-wire in the first or four $50,000 divisions at Yonkers.

Dr J Hanover, with Brett Miller in the bike, had the pole for starters, and that was enough to convince a solid field to take back at the outset. The Tony Alagna trainee's early foot is imposing, and Miller was able to take the field in line through a 27 4/5 opening quarter, slow enough to gain an advantage.

Though first round winner Always At My Place advanced without cover with purpose, Dr J Hanover cruised to the half in 57 3/5 and didn't give an inch, sprinting a 27 second flat third quarter. With defending champions Keystone Velocity and Bit Of A Legend N racing from well off-the-pace, Dr J Hanover opened ground on the final turn and never looked back, scoring in 1:52 4/5.

Chumlee A stalked the winner the entire trip and held for second but was later disqualified for going inside two pylons on the final turn. Keystone Velocity closed sharply for third, with Bit Of A Legend N going even faster on the far outside for fourth. That pair moved up one slot with Chumlee A set back to fourth by the judges.

Dr J Hanover won for the second time in three 2018 starts as the even money favorite.

Speed was again imposing in the second division as 3-5 favorite Evenin Of Pleasure jetted to the front in a 26 2/5 opening quarter and then was able to used the parked-out Orillia Joe as a pick through a half in 56 1/5. When Christen Me N moved wide off tiring cover on the third turn, driver Joe Bongiorno hit the gas, and Evenin Of Pleasure accelerated through a 1:24 three-quarters.

An 8-year-old by Dragon Again, Evenin Of Pleasure cruised to a 1:53 1/5 score for trainer Jenn Bongiorno. Bettor Memories survived a four-wide final turn surge and finished second, with Another Daily Copy third.

It was the first Levy leg victory for Evenin Of Pleasure after a second in opening leg action.

Western Fame got a perfect second-over trip with Mark MacDonald in tow and scored in 1:53 1/5 in the third Levy division. With Caviart Luca and driver George Brennan putting the field in line from his pole position through a 27 second opening quarter, 4-5 favorite Missile J tucked in second, with Somewhere In L A ducking in third.

Western Fame flushed the cover of Somewhere In L A approaching the half, and the action picked up intensely following the 57 1/5 half call. Somewhere In L A forced Caviart Luca to the limit passing three quarters in 1:24 3/5, and by headstretch Somewhere In L A had secured the lead but couldn't match strides with the perfectly-positioned Western Fame, a 9-2 offering.

Western Fame scored in 1:53 1/5 for trainer Jimmy Takter. Somewhere In L A was a gritty second, with Missile J only able to find room somewhat late, finishing third.

Rockin Ron and Yannick Gingras took the final of the four divisions, making a quarter move to the front past early leader Luciano N and cutting fractions of 26 3/5, 57, and 1:24 4/5 before scoring safely in 1:53 2/5.

First leg winner Mach It So left from post eight for a four-hole, and then went a big trip without cover, but was outdueled late for the place spot, losing in a photo to Luciano N.

Rockin Ron returned $2.30 as the heavy favorite and won for the second time in the series for trainer Ron Burke.