Yeudiel dials it in at Mountaineer for 4th victory

The wholesale lack of runners countrywide has had a major effect on the pari-mutuel handle, but for many owners at most of the smaller tracks it’s proved to be a monetary boon. The smaller fields have made it easier for sound runners to compete more often and bulk up their bank accounts.

In yesterday’s eighth race at Mountaineer Casino & Resort, three scratches reduced the field for the one-mile race to five, which included Yeudiel, the 5-year-old by Gone Astray. The gelding bred by SJT Racing Stables returned from a long vacation on June 20 and has now raced four times in 2022, posting a record of 2-0-2. In two of those races, he faced just five others, and in the other two, which includes yesterday, he faced just four.

Luciano Hernandez was aboard Yeudiel for yesterday’s effort, who battled for the early lead in the race at one mile, took over on the backstretch, opened up by four lengths heading home, and coasted to the wire nearly three lengths in front. In his last seven tries, Yeudiel has racked up two victories, two seconds and three thirds. He raised his record to 4-8-7 in 26 starts, paid $22.20 and earned $4,698 from Mountaineer’s miniscule purse fund.