Yonkers: Finals set for Art Rooney, Lismore after eliminations

Decoy and Trump Nation won the pair of $40,000 Art Rooney eliminations for 3-year-old pacing colts, and Jewels Forreal bagged the lone $20,000 elimination of the Lismore for sophomore pacing fillies on a damp and foggy Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway.

The bettors pounded Decoy (David Miller) down to 1-9 in the first Rooney elim, and he didn't disappoint, winning in 1:54. Decoy settled in third to the 27 3/5 opening quarter, then brushed to the lead passing the 56 1/5 half. Decoy opened up on his four rivals heading to the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, and coasted to an 8 1/2 length tally over Minnie Vinnie (Brett Miller), who overcame an interference break off the third turn to finish second. Major Authority (Brian Sears) and Jimtastic (Jason Bartlett) also secured spots in next week's final.

“I was pretty happy with him,” Miller said. “He went a good middle-half. Now, we hope to draw good for next week."

Decoy is a Somebeachsomewhere colt trained by Jimmy Takter for owners Brixton Medical Inc., R A W Equine Inc., and Joe Sbrocco. This was Decoy's third career win, and he has now earned $59,404. He returned $2.20 to win.

In the other Rooney elimination, Trump Nation (Bartlett) led through fractions of 27 4/5, 57 2/5, and 1:25 2/5 from the pole position, and dug in through the stretch to fend off the first-over try of favored Springsteen (Sears), winning by a head in 1:53 3/5. Babes Dig Me (Brett Miller) rallied for third, and Kwik Talkin (Jordan Stratton) checked in fourth to also go on to the final.

“I wanted to control the race,” Bartlett said. “When I saw the cheap half, I thought I was in good shape, but halfway down the lane, when (Springsteen) came at me, I thought I was beaten. He dug in.”

A Betterthancheddar colt, Trump Nation is trained by Andrew Harris, who also co-owns him with Evan Katz. Trump Nation now has five lifetime victories, and he pushed his bankroll to $82,076. He was a 7-2 shot and paid $9.00 to win.

The Lismore elimination saw public choice Pass Line Bluechip (Bartlett) take control away from Jewels Forreal (Dan Dube) right before the 27 4/5 opening quarter, then reach the half in 57 3/5 and the three-quarters in 1:26 1/5. After a first-over Python Blue Chip (George Brennan) broke stride on the far turn, Dube had room to come back to the outside with Jewels Forreal, and she would get around the pace-setter late, winning by a head in 1:55 1/5. Checkered Past (Mark MacDonald), Solitary (Brent Holland), Alexa's Power (Stratton), Believe In Me (Sears), Reign On Me (Brett Miller), and Python Blue Chip also advanced to the final, with Krushed Apple (David Miller) eliminated after finishing last.

Ron Burke trains the victorious daughter of So Surreal for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. She made her fourth appearance in the winner's circle, and she has now pocketed $44,135. Racing as part of an entry with Python Blue Chip and Reign On Me that was sent off at 3-2, Jewels Forreal returned $5.20 to win.

--quotes courtesy of Yonkers Raceway--