The Raceway's richest event of the season to date saw Cam B Zipper-perfect in
his three series prelims--in play early from post position No. 3. He stepped
around Upfront Ellijay Ed (Mark MacDonald), then handed to baton to Avenue
Hanover (Dan Dube)--also 3-for-3 in the series--after a snappy :26.3 opening
quarter-mile.
Avenue Hanover was able to rate a 30-second next station (:56.3 half), before
Cruznwithdabigdog (Cat Manzi) tried his luck and moving from fifth.
Avenue Hanover maintained the advantage in and out of a 1:25.1 three-quarters,
taking a length-and-a-half lead into the lane. The leader would fight the good
fight, but settled for second as Cam B Zipper ducked inside and edged by.
The margin was a half-length in 1:54. Braden (Brian Sears) rallied from
third-over to grab third, with Classic Call (Pat Lachance) and Upfront Ellijay
Ed scarfed down the minor awards. Alexpanderthegreat (Brent Holland),
Cruznwithdabigdog and Great Dragon (George Brennan) raced for the privilege.
For Cam B Zipper, a 4-year-old Cammibest gelding co-owned by Howard Taylor,
Rojan Stables, LA Express Stable & Allen Kaplan Kaplan and trained by
Michael Hall, he returned $4.10 for his sixth win in a dozen seasonal starts.
The exacta paid $25.20, with the triple returning $159.
"He's not a big horse, but very handy," Bartlett said. "He can
leave with anyone in this series. I never thought about retaking because we
were moving right along, Besides, I thought it was a two-horse race coming in
with Avenue Hanover and I figured he'd carry us."
A $25,000 series consolation was won by Panfermin Festival (Jordan Stratton,
$11.20) in a life-best 1:53.3.
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 (note that NYRA is dark Easter Sunday).
