Stakes season underway at Yonkers

The 2022 harness racing stakes season at Yonkers Raceway began on Tuesday night (March 8) with three $20,000 divisions of the first round of the MGM Rewards Gents Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-old colts and geldings.

The 1-5 favorite Phoenix Of Fluzzy, driven by George Brennan, didn’t disappoint in the opening section, winning in 1:54.3. Phoenix Of Fluzzy went to the top from post five, led his six rivals through panels of 28.3, 58.3, and 1:26.1, and then closed in 28.2 to defeat pocket-sitter Barrywhite Hanover, steered by Austin Siegelman, by a length and a half. Rhodena Road and pilot Jim Marohn Jr. were third after a first-over try.

Phoenix Of Fluzzy, a 4-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou, is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Purnel & Libby LLC., and Larry Karr. Phoenix Of Fluzzy has now won nine times from 17 career starts, and he pushed his earnings to $59,990. He paid $2.40 to win and was atop a $15.00 exacta and a $45.60 trifecta.

In the second split, Saranac Blue Chip (Siegelman) stepped to the front from post three and carved out stations of 27.4, 57.3, and 1:25. On the last turn, driver Jordan Stratton angled Perfectboy Hanover out of the pocket, and though he rallied through the stretch, Saranac Blue Chip dug in gamely and found the wire first by a nose in 1:53.1. Dance It Out, with Jason Bartlett in the bike, came in third.

Dan Morrissey trains Saranac Blue Chip, a 4-year-old gelded son of American Ideal, for owner Leona Morrissey. Saranac Blue Chip has seven victories from 39 lifetime tries, and he now shows a bankroll of $105,485. He was sent off at odds of 5-1 and returned $12.40 to win. The exacta was $36.20 and the trifecta $64.00.

Front-end tactics also worked for 1-5 choice Makin Some Noise and driver Tyler Buter in the last series tilt of the night.

Makin Some Noise chopped out fractions of 28, 57.1, and 1:26 after going to the engine from post three, and he held sway over pocket-sitter Bottle Rocket, steered by Mike Whelan, by three-quarters of a length in a 1:54.1 mile. Sports Section, with Matt Kakaley in the bike, checked in third.

A 4-year-old Always B Miki gelding, Makin Some Noise is trained by Rob Harmon for owner Rebecca Sugg. Makin Some Noise hasn’t been out of the top-two in nine career appearances (record of 7-2-0) and he has now pocketed $48,175.

Makin Some Noise kicked back $2.60 to win and keyed an $8.80 exacta and an $81.50 trifecta.

Three- and 4-year-old fillies and mares take their turn in the spotlight at Yonkers Wednesday night (March 9) with two $20,000 flights of the opening leg of the MGM Rewards Ladies Pacing Series. The ten-race program gets going at 6:55 p.m.