YR - OCEAN'S MOTION, SON OF NORDIC WIN FRIDAY NIGHT 33G CO-FEATURES

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Friday, January 27, 2012 -- Ocean's Motion (Jordan Stratton) busted it wide open Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $33,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Ocean's Motion (Jordan Stratton) - Mike Lizzi Photo

Assigned post position No.2, she was away fourth as Delightful Diva (Pat Berry) took over from 2-1 choice Bling (George Brennan) right at the :27.1 opening quarter-mile.

Before a :57.1 half, Ocean's Motion vacated the cones, going after a "Diva" who offered minimal resistance. Ocean's Motion scampered to an open lead before the 1:25 three-quarters, taking a seven-length advantage into the lane.

She obviously had more than enough margin to play with, prevailing by three lengths in 1:55.1. Arctic Fire N (James Rattray) closed for second in a successful North American debut, with a trapped-in Bling, Pancleefandarpels (Eric Goodell) and Breakheart Pass (Jason Bartlett) completing the cashers. 

For Ocean's Motion, a 5-year-old daughter of Camotion owned by Robert Lovett and trained by Chuck Connor Jr., she returned $11.60 (fourth choice) for her first win in a pair of seasonal starts. The exacta paid $125.50, with the triple returning $334.50. 

Friday night's co-featured $33,000 Open Trot saw Son of Nordic (Goodell) finish what he started.

Son of Nordic (Eric Goodell) - Mike Lizzi Photo

In play at the outset from post No. 7, Son of Nordic worked around IPO Blue Chip (Brent Holland), grabbing the lead right around a 28-second opening quarter-mile. From there, he found a :58.1 intermission as Four Starz Credit (Brennan) came for a visit.

Son of Nordic, though, had some separation from the stopping pocket-sitter and first-over pursuer in and out of the 1:26.2 three-quarters. He owned a 2 1/2-length lead turning for home, then won by a comfy length-and-a-half in 1:56.3.  A locally-debuting Equity (Bartlett)--as the 8-5 favorite--rallied for second, with Four Starz Credit, Definitely Mamie (Larry Stalbaum) and Play Fair (Pat Lachance) grabbing the remainder.   

For Son of Nordic, a 7-year-old Keystone Nordic gelding trained by Doug Noland for Lrl Racing, he returned $13 (third choice) for his first win in two '12 tries. The exacta paid $50.50, the triple returned $220 and the superfecta paid $593.

Yonkers' five-night-per-week (Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday) live schedule continues. First post for all programs remains at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.