BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS,
NY, Friday, June 1, 2012—Odds-on favorite Feeling You (Eric Goodell) found the
passing lane just in time Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured
$36,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace.
In play early from post position No. 5, Feeling You was stuffed in behind Breakheart
Pass (Jason Bartlett) before a :26.2 opening quarter-mile. (Four Starz Roe
[Jordan Stratton] broke in the first turn). Meanwhile, Breakheart Pass found a
55-second intermission before last week's winner, Keeper's Destiny (Mark
MacDonald), moved from third.
The leader was under fire in and out of the 1:23.1 three-quarters, with
Keeper's Destiny challenging and Naughtytiltheend (Brent Holland) behind that
one. Keeper's Destiny grabbed the baton from Breakheart Pass early stretch,
with Feeling You all dressed up with no place to race.
The latter did eventually get the HOV lane, then forged by, winning by a length in 1:52. Second went to Keeper's Destiny, with Naughtytiltheend, Breakheart Pass and Fox Valley Sage (Cat Manzi) grabbing the leftovers.
For Feeling You, a 5-year-old daughter of Cambest trained by Amber Buter for
co-owners Gallicchio Racing Stable, Tyler Buter and Vincent Cannella, she
returned $3.80 for her seventh win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid
$14.60, with the triple returning $55.50.
Friday night's co-featured $36,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by Looking
Hanover (MacDonald) in 1:55.4.
A double-parked Perfect Rendition (Larry Stalbaum) made the lead after 28-second
opening quarter. Looking Hanover, from post No. 3, yielded to that one. A :56.4
half ensued before Perfect Rendition made his own trouble. He jumped it off
down the backside going toward the 1:26 three-quarters.
That misstep left 7-5 fave Looking Hanover on the lead, with a first-up
Farifant (Goodell) alongside. After that one was rebuffed, last week's winner,
Blacktuxwhitesocks (Stratton), found room and darted through. However, Looking
Hanover was saved by the wire, prevailing by a neck in 1:55.4.
"Blacktux," Celebrity Bluechip (Bartlett), Orange Bigi (Manzi) and
Neighsay Hanover (Pat Lachance) rounded out the payees.
For Looking Hanover, a 7-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding co-owned by Dawn Marie
Gannon and Yannick Gingras and trained by Ed Gannon Jr., he returned
$4.80 for his first win in nine '12 tries. The exacta paid $20.60 and the
triple returned $84.
A pair of Saturday night stakes are on tap, with the $306,204 Art Rooney Pace (3-year-old
colts and geldings) and its companion event, the $176,484 Lismore Pace
(3-year-old old fillies), leading the 13-race card.
The
22nd edition of the Rooney goes as the sixth race (approximate post 8:50 PM),
in post position order...1-Bolt the Duer (MacDonald, 7-5), 2-Domethatagain (Jim
Morrill Jr., 12-1), 3-Dynamic Youth (Andrew McCarthy, 10-1), 4-Pet Rock (Brian
Sears, 8-1), 5-Hurrikane Kingcole (Tim Tetrick, 8-5), 6-Major Bombay (Bartlett,
6-1). Dynamic Youth is the lone gelding in the group.
The Lismore, offered up as the fourth race (approximate post 8:10 PM), includes
this quintet...1-Ryder Blue Chip (Bartlett, 15-1). 2-Handsoffmycookie (Tetrick,
3-5), 3-JK Fine Art (Morrill Jr., 5-1), 4-Jamie Sue (MacDonald, 6-1), 5-Bettor
B Lucky (George Brennan, 10-1),
The Raceway goes on its scheduled recess
after Saturday's card, with live racing (and evening simulcasting) returning
Friday, June 15. Afternoon simulcasting continues around the NYRA schedule.
