Yonkers: Missile J takes Rooney elim; Bee A Magician, Bit Of A Legend N shine in opens

Missile J delivered as part of a 1-9 favored entry, winning the lone $40,000 Art Rooney elimination for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway in 1:53 2/5.

Driven by Brian Sears, Missile J took the lead away from Rodeo Rock (Dan Dube) right at the 28 second opening quarter, then went on to reach the half in 56 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:24 4/5. Entry-mate Artmagic (George Brennan) got to Missile J's wheel at three-quarters, but Missile J was confidently driven through the lane and reported home with a 1 3/4 length tally. Rodeo Rock came back on to get second at odds of 36-1 while Artmagic finished third.

Rounding out the horses advancing to next week's final were: Manny (Brent Holland), Yankee Artillery (Jordan Stratton), No Shame Blue Chip (Brian Connor), Tailgunner Hanover (Ray Schnittker) and Tap Into Power (Jason Bartlett). Autotune Hanover (Tyler Buter) was the horse who was eliminated.

Linda Toscano trains Missile J, a gelding by American Ideal, for owners KJ Stables LLC. and Purple Haze Stables LLC. of New York. This was his fourth win from seven starts, and he has now earned $38,700.

A pair of $45,000 open handicaps later on the card were won by outside starters Bee A Magician and Bit Of A Legend N.

Bee A Magician (Sears) posted her 44th career victory and edged closer to the $4 million mark in career earnings after a 1:54 1/5 effort in the open handicap trot. She took control at the 27 4/5 opening quarter, coasted unchallenged through a 59 second middle half, and then sprinted home in 27 2/5 to beat Allerage Star (Dube) by a length and a half. Major Athens (Buter) got third.

George Morton Levy Series champion Bit Of A Legend N (Stratton) was seventh and last at the 27 second opening quarter, the 56 2/5 half, and the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters in the open handicap pace, but a 26 2/5 final quarter rally got him to the wire first, a length and a quarter to the good over Outrageous Art (Bartlett) in 1:52 1/5. Take It Back Terry (Brennan) checked in third.