Yonkers: Missile J blasts off in Levy Series action

Missile J, who won three legs and was third in the final of the George Morton Levy Series last year at Yonkers, had just a second and a third in two series starts so far this year. All that changed on Saturday night, though, as he announced his presence as a contender with a 1:52 win, the fastest of the year over the Westchester half-mile.

Racing in tonight's first $50,000 split, Missile J (Tim Tetrick) made front from post three, and rebuffed a pocket move from favored Mach It So (David Miller) past the 27 3/5 opening quarter. Missile J would go on to hit the half in 56, the three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, and a 27 4/5 final kicker got him to the finish line a length to the good over a first-up Bettor Memories (Kyle Husted). Caviart Luca (George Brennan) followed in for third.

Scott Di Domenico trains Missile J, a 5-year-old gelding by American Ideal, for owners John McGill and Brian Carsey. This was Missile J's 20th career victory, and he has now earned $727,327. He was sent off at 5-2 and paid $7.30 to win.

In other Levy action, Dr J Hanover (Brett Miller) improved to three-for-three in the series by winning the next section in 1:53 3/5. Starting from post four, Dr J Hanover went to the point and got away with easy first-half panels of 28 3/5 and 58. Round one winner Bit Of A Legend N (Jordan Stratton) pulled first-over in the third quarter and got to within three-parts of a length of Dr J Hanover at the 1:26 three-quarters, but the pace-setter held sway around the final bend and to the line, winning by half a length over his first-up pursuer. Another Daily Copy (Jason Bartlett) turned a pocket trip into a third-place finish.

Dr J Hanover is a 5-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding trained by Tony Alagna for the ownership group of Brad Grant, Robert LeBlanc, Steven Wienick, and Irwin Samelman. Dr J Hanover posted his 16th lifetime win, and he now shows a bankroll of $576,580. He was the 4-5 public choice and returned $3.90 to win.

The third division saw 4-5 favorite Rockin Ron (Yannick Gingras) front the group through stations of 27 3/5, 56 4/5, and 1:25, but he was unable to hold on in the lane as pocket-sitter Western Fame (Mark MacDonald) came to his outside and went by in the final stride to score by a nose in 1:52 4/5. Killer Martini (Bartlett) came off the poor cover of defending Levy Series champion Keystone Velocity (Dan Dube), who appears to be in danger of making the final this year, to collect third.

It was the second straight Levy tally for Western Fame, a 5-year-old Western Ideal stallion trained by Jimmy Takter for owner/breeder Brittany Farms. Western Fame made his 12th lifetime appearance in the winner's circle, and he has now pocketed $738,118. He was sent off at 9-2 and paid $11.00 to win.

Somewhere In L A (Bartlett) completed the Levy winners for the evening by taking the nightcap in 1:53. Last year's runner-up in the Levy final, Somewhere In L A settled fourth, came first-up off the second turn, overtook Franco Rayner N (Joe Bongiorno), who had posted fractions of 27 3/5 and 56 1/5 at the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters, and prevailed by a length over Long Live Rock (Dube), who followed from third-over. Luciano N (Brent Holland) took third.

A 7-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere, Somewhere In L A is trained by Richie Banca for owners D'Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, T L P Stable, and The Gandolfo Stables. Somewhere In L A posted the 33rd win of his life, and he has now banked $1,393,906. He was the 2-1 second choice and returned $6.30 to win.