Yonkers: Western Fame separates himself from the pack in Levy Series

If there was any doubt heading into the fourth leg of the George Morton Levy Series who the favorite would be for the final, Saturday's performance by Western Fame stamped him as the preferred horse to beat in two weeks with an imposing 1:50 4/5 victory.

Daniel Dube jetted Western Fame to the front in the last of four $50,000 Levy divisions, and the 6-year-old by Western Ideal cut fractions of 27 2/5, 56, and 1:23 4/5 with little pressure. On the final turn, when it looked as if pocket-sitting Gokudo Hanover would become a threat, Dube called on the Rene Allard-trained stallion and got a quick response that saw Western Fame draw off with a 27-second final quarter. Gokudo Hanover held for second, with Rock The Nite gaining along the plyons late for third.

Now with three victories and a second in four legs of the Levy, Western Fame is assured a spot in the rich final on April 20. Western Fame paid $2.40 as the heavy favorite.

Earlier in the night, JJ Flynn made it two series wins, scoring the 4-5 favorite in the opening division for driver Tim Tetrick. After leaving with purpose and forcing tucks through a 26 4/5 opening quarter, Tetrick sat the field down through a 57-second half-mile clocking. But the action picked up for the final-half with Pacing Major forcing the action up the backstretch, followed by Major Crocker through a spirited 27 2/5 third quarter with JJ Flynn still in control.

Late on the final turn Major Crocker came wide, and Tetrick was forced to go to the whip, but the 6-year-old Western Ideal-sired JJ Flynn dug in gamely and finished off the mile in 1:52 2/5 with a 28-second flat final quarter. Major Crocker made it interesting but settled for second, with Pacing Major holding third.

Josh Green trains JJ Flynn, a seven-time winner in 2019.

"They made me work that first quarter, so I needed that breather," said Tetrick of the slow second quarter.

Driver Ron Cushing had Bettors Fire razor-sharp prior to the Levy Series, but the New Zealand import's best finish in the first three Levy legs was a third-place finish in the opening leg. Things changed dramatically for Cushing on Saturday when he sent Bettors Fire to the lead on the first turn and never had an anxious moment thereafter.

Sent off at 8-1, the 11-year-old cut fractions of 27 4/5, 57 4/5, and 1:25 4/5 with little outside pressure coming as Im Some Graduate marched from well-back without cover but never got near the winner. Bettors Fire finished off the mile with a 27 3/5 final quarter as pocket-sitting Anythingforlove couldn't make up the ground and finished second. More The Better, a two-leg Levy winner this year, settled for third.

Heidi Gibbs trains Bettors Fire, who returned $19.40 in winning for the second time in nine 2019 starts.

Action was intense in the third Levy division as Bettor Memories left with purpose from the rail but saw immediate pressure from The Downtown Bus, along with last week's fastest leg winner Lyons Steel. Initially it appeared as if Jason Bartlett, driving Bettor Memories, was going to release The Downtown Bus without a battle, but he took that horse to the quarter in 26 4/5 with Lyons Steel also in full flight.

Driver Scott Zeron elected to keep Lyons Steel parked, and that set up a blistering 53 3/5 half and 1:22 three-quarters. By that call the leaders were done as Mar Nien first took over but was quickly corraled by Ideal Jimmy. Following that extended flow was The Wall and driver Joe Bongiorno, and Bongiorno was able to catapult the 5-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere to the front late, springing a 14-1 upset. Ideal Jimmy finished second, with Somebaddude third.

"Coming into the series he was racing against non-winners of $20,000, and it looked like a reach," said Bongiorno. "But he's been getting better every week."

The Wall is trained by Nick Surick and has three wins in 11 starts in 2019.