Yonkers: Round three of George Morton Levy Series in the books

Western Fame and driver Daniel Dube rebounded sharply from a second leg defeat in scoring a solid 1:51 4/5 victory while dealing previous two-leg winner Rodeo Rock his first Levy Series loss in one of five $50,000 divisions Saturday night at Yonkers.

Western Fame, a co-even money choice with Rodeo Rock, secured the lead off the first turn and had control through a 27 1/5 opening panel. Rodeo Rock and Andrew McCarthy moved to challenge before the 56 2/5 first half, but that challenge would for the most part be for the place spot as he dueled with pocket-sitter Dr J Hanover through a 1:24 2/5 three-quarters clocking. Western Fame drew off on the final turn and won with a 27 2/5 final quarter driven out. Dr J Hanover rallied back along the pylons for second, with Rodeo Rock third.

Rene Allard trains Western Fame, now with a pair of sub 1:52 victories in the series.

In a major shocker and delivering the longest price in the Levy Series so far, Pacing Major rallied off a second-over trip to score as a 65-1 shot for driver Jordan Stratton in the first division of the night. It was a wild finish that saw 55-1 shot The Wall close for second to complete a $1,630 exacta.

Much of the late activity was set up in a hotly-contested early scramble as The Downtown Bus left explosively from post seven, looping the 3-5 choice Endeavor on the first turn. By the time Tim Tetrick was able to get Endeavor rolling, it was already a 27 1/5 opening panel. Tetrick tried to slow the pace, but after a 55 3/5 half clocking, Beckhams Z Tam went on the offensive and took on the leader while Pacing Major followed second-over. With three-quarters in 1:24 2/5, the leader was vulnerable and Stratton moved the Peter Tritton-trained New Zealand import wide and got an instant response, scoring safely in 1:52 3/5. Major Crocker found room off the final turn and was up for third, with the favored Endeavor fading to fourth.

It was the first victory of the year in six starts for Pacing Major, a 6-year-old by Art Major.

Stratton came back with another significant upset when Lyons Steel captured the third Levy division in a stunning 1:50 4/5 mile.

Stratton was relaxed early, but there was plenty of activity in front of him in the early stages as both Always At My Place and Sams A Champ left in the face of odds-on JJ Flynn from the pole. Sams A Champ was three-deep and took back off the first turn while Always At My Place went up for the top. With a slick 27-second opening panel, Mark MacDonald pushed Sams A Champ aggressively and was allowed to tuck in the pocket as Tetrick moved to regain with JJ Flynn off the second turn. As JJ Flynn was moving to the half in 55 3/5, Stratton took Lyons Steel off the cones, and the pair made an explosive move around the favorite on the third turn. From there, Lyons Steel cut a 26 4/5 third quarter, blowing the race wide open. JJ Flynn would be a distant second, with Control Tower third.

Dennis Watson trains Lyons Steel, a 4-year-old by Rock N Roll Heaven who won for just the second time in nine starts this year. He returned $22.40 to win.

"It's the first time I drove him," said Stratton, "They mixed up it real good up front, and he closed the door on them."

More The Better became a two-time Levy series winner this year with a pocket-rocket performance for driver Scott Zeron in the week's penultimate section.

Anythingforlove seated the field form his pole position and cut rated fractions of 27 4/5 and 56 2/5 for the first half before exploding down the backstretch with a 27 2/5 third quarter. The extra pace separated the leader from the uncovered Mach It So into the final turn and allowed Zeron ample space to get out on the final turn. The 6-year-old New Zealand-bred son of Bettor's Delight took his cue and easily went past the leader, with I'm Some Graduate following him home and Anythingforlove holding third.

Ross Croghan trains More The Better who returned $6.30 to win. The mile was paced in 1:52 1/5.

Mac's Jackpot captured the final Levy division for Matt Kakaley in 1:52 4/5.

Windsong Leo and Mach Doro left alertly, with the latter working hard to clear in a 26 3/5 first quarter. Mach Doro and Ron Cushing were still in control at the half in 56 1/5, but pocket-sitting Windsong Leo became rank and disjointed and lost contact. Mac's Jackpot and Kakaley hustled up without cover to wear down the leader and lead through three-quarters in 1:24 1/5. The winner opened lengths on the final turn but needed a steady drive to hold a solid-closing Ideal Jiimmy at bay. Rodeo Romeo finished third.

Jeff Smith trains Mac's Jackpot, who won for the first time in four 2019 starts while returning $7.30 to win.