Yonkers: Rodeo Rock, Ideal Jimmy repeat as Levy Series continues

Rodeo Rock and trainer Robert Cleary made it two straight in the George Morton Levy Series on Saturday night, winning one of a half-dozen $50,000 divisions at Yonkers Raceway. With Andrew McCarthy in the bike, the 6-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven overtook front-stepping Gokudo Hanover approaching the wire to score in 1:52 1/5, with Rock The Nite a late-closing third.

Gokudo Hanover cut all the fractions, easily disposing second choice Bit Of A Legend into the first turn. Driver George Brennan and Gokudo Hanover put up numbers of 26 4/5, 56 1/5, and 1:24, with Rodeo Rock on a long coverless grind. On the final turn it appeared as if Brennan had enough of a lead to hold on, but McCarthy got after Rodeo Rock, and the gelding proved brave enough on the wire.

"He was a bit smooth on the track tonight," said McCarthy. "I was hoping to get Scottie (Zeron behind More The Better) to give me cover but when he didn't I had to go up."

Sent off as a 3-5 choice, it was the third win in three tries this year for Rodeo Rock.

Ideal Jimmy made it two-for-two as well in the Levy with an authoritative wire-to-wire performance for driver Brent Holland. The 6-year-old by Western Ideal had an easy time, gaining the lead in a 28-second opening quarter, then cutting fractions of 57 4/5 and 1:26 before sprinting off in 27 3/5 to win by multiple lengths. Lockton Luck chased the winner throughout and held the place spot at 29-1 over Bellows Binge.

Erv Miller trains Ideal Jimmy, who has now won five of his 10 starts this year, this one at a $4.10 mutuel payoff.

Heavy choice Western Fame lacked the speed to match his first round romp in the opening Levy division as Dan Dube had him on the point through fractions of 27 1/5 and 56 2/5. JJ Flynn and Brennan went on the offensive first-over at that point and engaged the leader on even terms through the 1:24 third quarter. Brennan took advantage on the final turn as the favorite couldn't match speed and appeared to take a few bad steps. JJ Flynn scored in 1:51 3/5 for trainer Josh Green at a juicy 20-1 mutuel. Western Fame settled for second with Duplicated N third in the field.

J J Flynn has now six victories in eight tries this year.

Second choice Endeavor made a blistering move on the backstretch and first leg winner Anythingforlove had no response in another Levy division. Endeavor, driven by Tim Tetrick, sat in third as Anythingforlove rattled off fractions of 27 3/5, 57 1/5, and 1:25 for three quarters. Endeavor took a clear lead on the final turn and rolled home to a 1:52 4/5 victory as a 7-5 offering. Control Tower closed between horses for second, with Dr J Hanover encountering some traffic issues and clearing late for third.

Jeff Cullipher trains Endeavor, a 6-year-old son of American Ideal.

Even-money favorite Beckhams Z Tam appeared to get the exact trip he was looking for, ranging up on the final turn off third-over cover after an incredibly contested pace in another Levy division. The former Breeders Crown champion had the lead in the homestretch but couldn't hold on as 7-1 shot The Downtown Bus tracked him and then passed him in the final strides for a 1:53 1/5 victory.

Sams A Champ and Mark MacDonald made two moves in a 26 1/5 opening panel to take control. Before getting a chance to hit the half, first leg winner The Wall put the heat on the leader and the two hit the half in 55 3/5 and three-quarters in 1:23 4/5, essentially sapping both. Tetrick pushed Beckhams Z Tam wide on the backstretch, forcing Rodeo Romeo into a blindswitch. He circled to the front late on the turn before being overtaken. Rodeo Romeo would come free late for the third spot.

The Downtown Bus, a 4-year-old by Mach Three, was a winner for the first time in 2019 in just two starts for trainer Jeff Gillis.

Somewhere In L A was put into the pocket on the first turn by Imarocnrollegend and followed that rival to the stretch for driver Jason Bartlett before pulling and rolling by the favorite late in a 1:53 1/5 mile to capture the final of the half-dozen Levy divisions.

Imarocnrollegend and Brennan jetted to instant control and cut fractions of 27 4/5, 57 4/5, and 1:25 2/5 while easily keeping the first-over Somebaddude well in arrears. Off the final turn Bartlett found ample room, and the 8-year-old veteran son of Somebeachsomewhere knew exactly what to do, getting up in the late stretch. Sent off at 2-1, Somewhere In L A paid $6.10 with Imarocnrollegend settling for second, and Don Domingo N up for third.

Rich Banca trains Somewhere In L A, who won for the 40th time in his career.