Svanstedt sweeps Yonkers Trot elims, track record set

The Svanstedt stable holds a pair of aces for the final of next week’s first leg of the harness racing trotting Triple Crown after winning both eliminations of the Yonkers Trot at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night.

Up Your Deo (Walner), survived some anxious moments just after the start and a judge’s inquiry to win the first elimination in 1:53.1, a new track record for three-year-old trotting colts. Up Your Deo erased the 1:53.3 previous record set by Gimpanzee in 2019.

The victory was not void of some anxious moments early, however, as Up Your Deo made what looked like a speed break for three strides soon after the start as he was fighting for position in between rivals. After resetting, he settled into fourth while a keyed up Chapercraz (Yannick Gingras) powered through an opening quarter in :28. There were no changes in positioning as the field passed the half in :56.4 with Chapercraz leading comfortably.

As the field approached the three-eighths pole, Up Your Deo passed a tiring rival and moved into third, but he was still 5 1/2 lengths in arrears as they passed the three quarters in 1:24.2. When the field straightened out for home, it became clear that both Up Your Deo, and pocket sitting Crown were going to make a race of it. All three sophomore trotters sprinted for the wire with Up Your Deo getting up by a head right on the line over a game Chapercruz, who nosed out Crown for second. It was eight lengths back to Manclane, who claimed the fourth and final spot in next week’s final.

Trainer/driver Svanstedt shares ownership of the sophomore with Deo Volente Farms and Suleyman Yuksel stables and Van Camp Trotting Corp.

UP YOUR DEO REPLAY

The second division was less eventful for Svanstedt and Kierkegaard K (Chapter Seven) who went right to the front and was never seriously challenged on his way to a 1:54 3/5 score. Svanstedt took no prisoners and no chances as he forced lead-seeking Tillio’s Action (Jordan Stratton) into the pocket as he sped through a :27.2 opening quarter. Positions were unchanged as Svanstedt backed the half down to a comfortable :57.1.

Kenobi (Tim Tetrick) was the first to move and he quickly went from sixth to second, but he started to spin his wheels as they hit the three quarters in a tepid 1:26.4. From there, Kierkegaard K powered home in :27.4 for an easy two-length win as the 2 to 5 bettor’s choice. Tillio’s Action stayed for second with Ari Ferrari J (Dexter Dunn) producing a strong closing effort to get third. Southwind Admiral (Todd McCarthy) crossed the wire fourth but he was off stride and placed sixth which gave the final spot in the final to Devilish Hill (Andrew McCarthy) who finished fifth but was elevated to fourth after the inquiry.

KIERKEGAARD K REPLAY

There were also two eliminations for the Park MGM Pace for sophomore fillies. The first division was uneventful, with overhelming 1 to 9 favorite Earthwindfire (American Ideal) leading every step and winning by a neck for driver Tim Tetrick.

Taking full advantage of her rail draw, Earthwindfire cut identical unstressed fractions of :28.2 to lead past the :56.4 half with her six rivals content to follow. As the field passed the 3/4 in 1:24.2 she was still comfortably in front while accelerating but a challenge from the pocket sitter Lisa Lane (Patrick Ryder) was soon to come. It took a 28-flat final quarter from the leader to get the job done and Earthwindfire was a neck winner in 1:52.2.

It was well back to third, taken by Silky Stride (Jordan Stratton) and the final qualifier for next week’s final was Treacherous Penny (Andy McCarthy), who rallied from last to take fourth. Brett Pelling trains Earthwindfire, a daughter of American Ideal bred by Stephen Dey III, for owners Mel Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Tulip Racing. Earthwindfire has a record of 8-4-0 from 13 starts, pushed her earnings to $378,750 and the win was her second in five days, following a New York Sires Stakes score at Monticello on Monday.

EARTHWINDFIRE REPLAY

The second division provided more excitement than the first with Scott Zeron guiding second choice Uncandoit Blue Chip (Keystone Velocity) to a nose victory over a surging True Blue Hanover (Jason Bartlett). Ucandoit Blue Chip was the first leader, but she was overtaken by odds-on favorite Vivians Dream (Brian Sears) as the fillies passed the opening quarter in :27.2. There was no change in positioning passing the half in a throttled down :56.3.

Heading to the three-quarter pole, Vivians Dream faced a first up challenge from American Crispin (Stratton) while Uncandoit Blue Chip lurked in the pocket. As they passed the three quarters in 1:25.1, the first-over challenger didn’t corner well and that allowed the pocket sitter to escape and pounce.

As Uncandoit Blue Chip was passing the leader in midstretch, True Blue Hanover (Bartlett) was flying up the pylons and the winner was in doubt until they hit the wire where Ucandoit Bluechip got up by a nose in the three path. It was a length back to Vivians Dream in third and another half a length to Turn On The Charm (Marcus Miller) who took the final qualifying spot for the final.

UNCANDOIT BLUE CHIP REPLAY

Ucandoit Blue Chip is filly trained by Linda Toscano for owner Bill Elliott. The Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc.-bred made her seventh appearance in the winner’s circle, sent her bankroll to $340,285.

For complete race results, click here.

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink