Yonkers: First round of the M Life Rewards Gents Pacing Series held

Dragon Said and Retour Au Jeu picked up new lifetime marks in winning their respective $15,000 splits in the first leg of the M Life Rewards Gents Pacing Series on Wednesday night (March 3) at Yonkers Raceway.

Driven by Joe Bongiorno in the final division, Dragon Said moved out of the pocket to take the lead away from Sailboat Hanover (George Brennan) going to the 28 3/5 opening quarter. Dragon Said, sent off as the 8-5 second choice, continued on the engine to the half in 58 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:26 1/5, then drew off powerfully in the final quarter, widening to prevail by seven lengths in 1:53 1/5. Sailboat Hanover wound up second, and favored My Pal Joe (Alek Chartrand) had to settle for third after stalling out from first-up on the last turn.

Trained by Jenn Bongiorno for owner Robert Devine, Dragon Said is a 4-year-old Well Said gelding. This was his fifth career win, and he has now earned $38,732. Dragon Said paid $5.50 to win. The exacta was worth $20.00, and trifecta returned $28.00.

Retour Au Jeu (Jordan Stratton) raced in the second section, and he watched from fourth as Odds On Brexit (Tyler Buter), Rolling With Sam (Brennan), and Got The Mojo (Matt Kakaley) all had a turn on the front through a snappy 27 second opening quarter. Once the dust settled, Stratton guided Retour Au Jeu to the outside, and he was able to brush to the point before the 56 1/5 half. Retour Au Jeu then successfully withstood a first-over try from Odds On Brexit to the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters before he paced away to a 2 1/2 length verdict in 1:53 4/5. Rolling With Sam was up for second, and Trevor's Ace (Scott Zeron) got third at 64-1.

Dennis Laterza trains Retour Au Jeu, a 4-year-old He's Watching gelding, for owner Latz A Luck Stable. Retour Au Jeu now has a record of 8-5-6 from 24 lifetime starts, and he has banked $48,768. Retour Au Jeu, the 3-2 favorite, returned $5.00 to win. The exacta returned $19.80, and the trifecta kicked back $259.50.

Even-money second choice Scootnroll (Buter) turned a second-over trip into a 1:56.1 triumph in the first flight. He beat Panther Time (Joe Bongiorno), who led through panels of 28 2/5, 58 4/5, and 1:27 4/5, by a length and a half, and Gonnahaveonemore (Brett Holland) saved third after a pocket trip.

A 4-year-old gelded son of Roll With Joe, Scootnroll is trained by Todd Buter for owners Rick and Geoff Howles. Scootnroll is now an 11-time winner from 21 trips behind the gate, and he has pocketed $64,264. Scootnroll paid $4.20 to win. The exacta returned $10.60, and the trifecta was good for $18.00.

Rounding out Wednesday night's winners in the M Life Rewards Gents Pacing Series was Lou's Sweetrevenge (Brennan). After racing in fourth through stations of 27 1/5, 56 2/5, and 1:24 2/5, Brennan had Lou's Sweetrevenge off the cones before three-quarters. Lou's Sweetrevenge gained into third on the last turn, rallied past tiring leader Cigar Smoking Tony (Jason Bartlett) in the stretch, and hit the line a length and three-quarters to the good in 1:54. Diamondbeach (Zeron) advanced from last to second in the back-half of the mile, and Cigar Smoking Tony wound up third.

Lou's Sweetrevenge is a 4-year-old Sweet Lou gelding trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Phil Collura, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Lou's Sweetrevenge posted his sixth win in his 36th lifetime effort, and he now shows earnings of $98,403. Lou's Sweetrevenge, who returned $5.30 to win as the 8-5 second choice, headed a $21.80 exacta and a $51.00 trifecta.

The M Life Rewards Gents Pacing Series continues with preliminary round action the next two Wednesdays (March 10 and 17), and the final is slated for March 24.

--press release (Yonkers Raceway Media)--