Yonkers: Western Fame carries Dube to career win 9,000 as Levy Series gets going

The 2019 George Morton Levy Series got started in definitive style as driver Daniel Dube notched career win number 9,000 with 6-5 shot Western Fame in capturing the first of six $50,000 divisions at Yonkers on Saturday night. Trainer Rene Allard had the 6-year-old by Western Ideal ready in just his second start of the season, and that made a difference as Western Fame went wire-to-wire for Dube in a crushing 1:51 1/5 mile.

A career winner in excess of $1 million, Western Fame secured the lead early from co-favorite Windsong Leo in a 27 1/5 opening quarter but from there the rest was easy. Dube took control with fractions of 56 2/5 and 1:24 1/5, with Somewhere In L A chasing without cover. On the final turn Windsong Leo lost his action and nearly fell down, which led to a near pile-up that impacted the rest of the field. By the time the dust had settled, Western Fame was long gone, with Somewhere In L A well clear for second ahead of Mach It So.

"He was ready," said Dube of the race winner. "He did it nice and easy."

The red-hot Jennifer Bongiorno stable continued its feverish clip when 1-5 shot Anythingforlove scored in the second Levy division in 1:53 4/5. Veteran Rockin Ron secured the lead from the favorite off the first turn and proceeded to cut rated fractions of 27 4/5 and 57 2/5 for the opening half. Driver Joe Bongiorno took no chances, vacating the pocket before the 1:25 1/5 three-quarter clocking, and he quickly engaged the leader. Bongiorno kept working on the 7-year-old Australian import, and he prevailed safely over a fast-closing Somebaddude, who worked his magic along the pylons. Luciano finished third.

It was the fourth win in seven seasonal starts for Anythingforlove.

The third division of the Levy produced the first upset as Ideal Jimmy wired the field for driver Brent Holland and trainer Erv Miller. Holland pushed the pedal early with a 27 4/5 opening quarter, and Tim Tetrick, behind odds-on favorite Beckhams Z Tam, accepted the pocket trip willingly. Holland got a half in 57 2/5 and took on the challenge of Micky Gee on the backstretch, losing that one after the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters. Beckhams Z Tam also lost contact with the winner and would not recover. Macs Jackpot closed gamely to nail the place spot over a determined Micky Gee in the 1:52 4/5 mile. Beckhams Z Tam finished fourth.

For Ideal Jimmy it was his fourth win on the season in nine starts as he became the second son of Western Ideal to capture a Levy division.

Rodeo Rock gave his connections a pre-St. Patrick's Day present with a powerful 1:52 4/5 victory as the 6-5 second choice in the fourth $50,000 division. Driven by Andy McCarthy for trainer Robert Cleary the 6-year-old by Rock N Roll Heaven passed favorite Duplicated in the late stages for his second straight victory in as many starts in 2019.

After 31-1 shot Rodeo Romeo blasted to the front from post eight before the first turn, the 4-5 favored Duplicated regained the lead. Fractions of 28, 57, and 1:24 4/5 still saw Tetrick and Duplicated in control, but McCarthy vaulted Rodeo Rock off his second-over cover on the final turn, and the pair flew home to win handily. Rodeo Romeo held gamely for third.

Rodeo Rock gave sire Rock N Roll Heaven his second Levy division of the night, with one from each hemisphere.

Driver Joe Bongiorno doubled up in the Levy with a major surprise as 19-1 The Wall made incredible use of limited real estate to capture the fifth $50,000 division in a blanket finish.

Imarocnrollegend, the even-money favorite, was hard-used to a 26 3/5 opening quarter in a division reduced to six horses after two scratches. Matt Kakaley rated the favorite through a half in 56 3/5 and then picked up the pace on the backstretch, with the veteran Always At My Place making a first-over advance. Imarocnrollnrollegend drew clear from the outer tier on the final turn following a 27 4/5 third quarter sprint, but that opened the door for Bettors Fire from the pocket and freed The Wall for the final sprint to nip the favorite. Bettors Fire settled for third.

Nick Surick trains The Wall, a 1:53 winner.

"When I pulled him he was like a rocket," said Bongiorno following the race.

More The Better captured the final $50,000 division for driver Scott Zeron as the 6-5 choice. Mar Nien seated everyone early from the pole position, but George Brennan decided to challenge from the pocket off the first turn with Gokudo Hanover, and that made the leader work through the 27 1/5 quarter. Brennan relented and driver Greg Merton was able to control the half, with Mar Nien A getting there in :56 4/5. More The Better and Zeron pulled before the half and quickly engaged the leader. The pair dueled bitterly past the 1:24 3/5 three-quarters, but by late on the final turn Zeron had More The Better on the lead. The imported son of Bettor's Delight had to deal with a solid-closing Mach Doro, who rallied from third-over to make it a race, but would settle for second. Gokudo Hanover came up the rail for third in the 1:53 2/5 mile.

Ross Croghan trains More The Better, a winner for the first time in three starts in 2019.