Downrightdelicious does best in stakes final

Downrightdelicious (Downbytheseaside) posted a hard-fought 1:53 harness racing victory in Saturday evening’s (July 16) MGM Springfield Stakes final for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers at Yonkers Raceway.

Sent off at 1-9 after winning two overnight races at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Downrightdelicious (Matt Kakaley) settled in third from post five but came to the outside exiting the first turn and made his way around Music Hall (Jason Bartlett) to take command just past the 27.3 opening quarter.

The pace remained quick after Downrightdelicious landed on the point, as he hit the half in 55.3 and the three-quarters in 1:24.2. While that was going on up front, Captain Mikey (Jordan Stratton) attacked first-over out of third as the field raced in the backstretch for the final time, and he would move into second entering the final bend.

Music Hall faded from the pocket past three-quarters, leaving Downrightdelicious and Captain Mikey to battle it out, and although Captain Mikey loomed and tried his hardest, he just couldn’t get past a determined Downrightdelicious, who hit the wire a neck in front of his foe. Married Man (Austin Siegelman), Music Hall, and Major Decision (Greg Merton) rounded out the order.

DOWNRIGHTDELICIOUS REPLAY

A Downbytheseaside-D D Delightful colt, Downrightdelicious races for the same connections – trainer Travis Alexander and owner/breeder Fiddler’s Creek Stables LLC. – as last year’s MGM Springfield Stakes champion Pleaseletmeknow. Downrightdelicious has now earned $63,000 to go with his perfect record, and he paid $2.30 to win. The exacta returned $4.90 and the trifecta was worth $13.80.

Stakes action returns to Yonkers on Tuesday night (July 19) with a couple of New York Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Yonkers is currently operating on a Monday-Saturday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:55.