Through The Binocs

Poor Skorton. The NY-bred 3-year-old gelding was making his 10th start in yesterday’s fourth race, favored at 2-1 dropping into a 16G maiden claimer after he was beaten 16 lengths for 30G on New Year’s Day.

Racing down the backside, Skorton broke down with a fractured right knee; and although Ramon Dominguez tried to pull him up, he fell, then got up and hobbled off as Dominguez, to his credit, ran after Skorton, trying to catch him.

An outrider finally haltered the poor horse at the top of the stretch, where he was euthanized.

The year is only five weeks old, and already we’ve seen too many horses go down.

FIFTH RACE: Bombs away!

Speeding On, favored at 5-2, shook loose on the lead under double-bug Jose Rodriguez and was still well in front at the mid-stretch mark, but getting tired. Fiftyfivefiftyfive, Ramon Dominguez up, rallied to run her down in the final furlong, but just when she looked like the winner, 63-1 Princess Reyana — stepping up to a 35G maiden claimer after getting thrashed last out by 10 lengths for 16G facing NY-bred colts — came with a rush under seven-pound apprentice Samuel Camacho Jr. to run right past Fiftyfivefiftyfive, who was then nipped by 56-1 Buck Stops Here, seven-pound apprentice Michael Birriel up, for second. The double-bug exacta came back a bit light at $2,213.

SIXTH RACE: Bombs away again!

Wow Me, 4-1 under Jose Rodriguez, took the lead turning for home, opened daylight at the top of the stretch and looked home free inside the final furlong. But then 38-1 Minister’s Fate, Abel Lezcano up, came with a rush to nail Wow Me in the final yards. The double of $128.50 Princess Reyana and $75.50 Minister’s Fate paid $2,556 — about half what the parlay would pay. It’s supposed to pay more.

PICK SIX

Winning numbers:

4-6-2-1-4-7

No winners

4 consolation (5 of 6) winners paid $2,484

Carryover: $29,812