YONKERS, NY, Friday, June 15, 2012—Yonkers Raceway returned from hiatus Friday night with a pair of $44,000 co-features.
The weekly Open Handicap Trot was won by Blacktuxwhitesocks (George Brennan) in
track-record timing.
Ordered outside his seven rivals, "Blacktux" settled in fourth as
11-10 choice Lorenzo Dream (Jason Bartlett) threw down the gauntlet from the
pylons. "Lorenzo" put up a :27.4 opening quarter-mile and 57-second
intermission, with Farifant (Mark MacDonald) second and MM"s Lucky Boy
(Brent Holland) third.
Going toward the 1:25.1 three-quarters, Farifant was done and "MM"
took out of third. Blacktuxwhitesocks was on that one's back, while the back
markers were too far back.
Lorenzo Dream opened to 2¼ lengths turning for home, by the teletimer was
taking its toll. First, MM's Lucky Boy went by him,1 then Blacktuxwhitesocks
went by 'em both.
The margin was a length in 1:54.1, a new, all-age track record, slapping
two ticks off the previous troika of Shutter Boy (2009), Perfect Rendition and
Big Sky Storm (both earlier this season). Minor spoils for this race went to KM
Express (Jack Baggitt Jr.) and Farifant. Ironically, Big Sky Storm was last
here behind "Blacktux."
For Blacktuxwhitesocks, a 5-year-old statebred Credit Winner gelding co-owned
(as American Viking Racing Stable) by trainer Trond Smedshammer and Purple Haze
Stables, he returned $5.60 (second choice) for his fourth win in 11 seasonal
starts. The exacta paid $84, the triple returned $213 and the superfecta paid
$1,319.
The Filly and Mare Pace was won by Keeper's Destiny (Brennan) in snappy,
two-move effort.
In play at the outset from post position No. 5 (in a couple of notches after a
pair of defections), Keeper's Destiny left into a three-hole as
Naughtytiltheend (Holland) lined 'em up from the pole.
That one led through intervals of :27 and :55.4 before Keeper's Destiny was
moving again. I'm Just Special for was pocketed and Fox Valley Sage (Cat Manzi)
was second-up going toward the 1:23.1 three-quarters.
However, "Sage" was sputtering, which did nothing for the cause of
3-4 favorite Feeling You (Eric Goodell). That one, away last, had given herself
way too much work to do.
All the while, Keeper's Destiny has snatched the lead from a stubborn
Naughtytiltheend passing the three-quarters, but could not open up any
daylight. She eventually edged away late, winning by a
length-and-three-quarters in a season's-best 1:52.
Feeling You photoed Naughtytiltheend for second, with Up Front Kellie Jo (MacDonald)
and I'm Just Special completing the cashers.
For Keeper's Destiny, a 6-year-old
daughter of Intrepid Seelster owned by Merlin Howse and trained by Casie
Coleman (also the co-breeders), she returned $5.30 (second choice) for her
fifth win in 14 ’12 tries. The exacta paid $10.60, with the triple returning
$32.60. Superfecta wagering was scrapped due to the short field.
