YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, December 27, 2011 -- George Brennan and Lou Pena easily won their respective driver and trainer titles for Yonkers Raceway's recently-concluded 2011 season.
The racing calendar, which ended this past Friday night (Dec. 23), saw Brennan run away and hide with 697 local victories from 2,413 drives, winning with just under 29 percent of his escorts. Brennan, in his first full Westchester season, also rolled home with the money belt, ending with purses of $11,197,878.
The victory figure just about doubled-up three-time defending champ Jason Bartlett's 349 wins, with Bartlett also finishing second in purses ($6.6 million). Dan Dube (249 wins), Cat Manzi (193) and Brent Holland (179) rounded out the first flight among drivers, though Brian Sears gets honorable mention for 176 wins in 510 fewer drives than Holland at No. 5.
Pena successfully defended his training title, with 246 winners from 628 starters (39.2 percent). That total outdistanced Mark Ford (135 wins), though Ford--with 379 more starters--led in purses ($3,717,162 to $3,446,118).
Ron Burke (110 wins), Casie Coleman (92) and Chris Marino (84) rounded out the training quintet win category, respectively.
