Yonkers: Western Beachboy rallies to win Sagamore Hill final

Driver George Brennan said tongue-in-check, "Just the way I drew it up," after Western Beachboy ($6.30) snapped favored Declan Seelster (Joe Bongiorno) at the wire Tuesday night (March 26), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $60,200 final of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series.

The Teddy Roosevelt-approved assemblage was open to 3- and 4-year-olds gentlemen who are/were non-winners of four races and/or $40,000 through last Dec. 1.

A week after a scorched-earth, life-best (1:52), down-the-road effort, Western Beachboy won the finale from well off the pace.

Away sixth from post position No. 6, Western Beachboy saw his coupled entrant, Prologue (Jim Marohn Jr.), lead through early substations of 27 seconds flat and 56 2/5. Prologue was noticeably off the cones by the intermission, causing 4-5 choice Declan Seelster to move wider during his hard challenge from fourth.

Leader and stalker were inseparable through a 27 2/5 third quarter (1:23 4/5), with Cheese Melt (Yannick Gingras) loosely pocketed and Yeahnah (Troy Beyer) gapping from second-over.

While this scenario unfolded, Western Beachboy was going three-deep down the backside, getting within shouting distance off the final turn. Soon thereafter, Declan Seelster was about to win the battle—putting away Prologue—but lose the war as Western Beachboy tagged him by a short nose in 1:53 1/5.

On Accident (Jordan Stratton) angled out, then back in late to grab third, with Prologue and Cheese Melt rounding out the payees. The order was completed by Yeahnah, a breaking-early Sharp Action Money (Jason Bartlett) and a never-in-it/did not finish Better Than Spring (Matt Kakaley).

Cheese Melt and Sharp Action Money were the other wagering entry.

For second choice Western Beachboy, a 4-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding co-owned (as Allard Racing) by (trainer) Rene Allard, Bruce Soulsby, Alan Weisenberg and Gilbert Short, it was his third win in nine seasonal starts ($61,300). The exacta paid $16.60, with the triple returning $83. Per New York State rules, superfecta wagering was not offered due to the presence of coupled entries.

“He was out a long way,” Brennan said. “It was a very good effort. He used to always be locked on the left line, but he’s become much easier to drive.”

A $30,000 series consolation was won by Trump That (Gingras, $2.50) in 1:54 3/5.

-edited release (Frank Drucker for Yonkers)