Yonkers: Field set for George Morton Levy Series final as preliminary rounds conclude

In a prelude to the rich George Morton Levy Series final, Western Fame again dominated his rivals as a prohibitive favorite, winning his fourth in five legs of the series. On this Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway, he won with authority in 1:51.

Sent off as a 1-10 choice, Daniel Dube let Western Fame sprint to the front, taking over before the quarter and posting a 27-second split while putting the field in line. Dube rated the half with Western Fame, and the 6-year-old cruised in 56 2/5 before being put to pressure by second choice Rodeo Rock on the backstretch. The threat was only for second as Western Fame set sail on his own through a 1:24 three-quarters and then sprinted home in 27 seconds, winning in-hand. Rodeo Rock was a game second, edging More The Better, with Pacing Major N fourth.

Now a winner four times in six tries this year, Western Fame paid $2.30 to win for trainer Rene Allard and stamped himself the likely favorite for the final. Rodeo Rock needed a second-place finish to reach the final and got it, and More The Better, with a third-place finish, also advanced.

Bettor Memories regained winning form, converting on a second-over trip to capture the first Levy division for driver Jason Bartlett. In a race that saw Dr J Hanover and Don Domingo exchange the early lead before the turn, Im Some Graduate quarter-moved to control in a quick 26 2/5 opening quarter. The favorite marched to the half in 56 seconds, then encountered some pressure on the backstretch with Control Tower first-over and Bettor Memories following the cover.

The complexion changed after a 1:24 three-quarters clocking as the favorite was unable to separate. Bartlett tipped Bettor Memories wide, and the 6-year-old rolled by the favorite in early stretch. Mar Nien rallied behind the winner for second, with Dr J Hanover getting rail clearance late and finishing third.

Sent off at 5-1, Bettor Memories returned $13.60 to win for just the second time in eight starts in 2019 for trainer Nifty Norman.

The Downtown Bus needed a big effort to reach the final, and he got it with driver Scott Zeron in the second $50,000 Levy division. With the rail advantage Zeron left the gate hard, discouraging all but Always At My Place from the front. Zeron yielded before the quarter and regained with The Downtown Bus through a 27 4/5 opening quarter. After a 30 second second quarter the outer flow came on quickly as Imarocnrollegend made an aggressive brush to challenge the leader, followed by Major Crocker and Lyons Steel on the backstretch. The leader held rivals at bay through a 26 4/5 individual third quarter, with Zeron sitting confidently.

On the final turn Major Crocker and Lyons Steel rallied wide to attempt to close the margin, but The Downtown Bus, a 4-year-old gelding by Mach Three, responded to urging to hold safely in a 1:52 mile. Major Crocker was second, with Lyons Steel third.

Sent off at 7-2, The Downtown Bus won for the second time in the series for trainer Jeff Gillis.

Ideal Jimmy finished off the Levy qualifying round with a resounding wire-to-wire score for driver Brent Holland and was second in the point standings following a 1:52 blowout score. With fractions of 27 2/5, 57 1/5, and 1:25 1/5, Holland let the Erv Miller-trained gelding loose on the final turn, and he marched away from pocket-sitting Anythingforlove, the 7-5 betting choice. Ballerat Boomerang was a solid second after going coverless the final half, with Rockin Ron closing late for third and nosing out the betting choice.

Sent off at 9-5, Ideal Jimmy was a winner for the sixth time in 13 starts this year.

The finalists for next Saturday night's George Morton Levy Series final are:

Western Fame
Ideal Jimmy
The Wall
More The Better
Rodeo Rock
JJ Flynn
The Downtown Bus
Anythingforlove