YONKERS, NY, Friday, September 28, 2012--Yonkers Raceway's usual Friday night pair of $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps--for distaff pacers and both-genders-allowed trotters--were won by odds-on Royal Cee Cee N (George Brennan, $2.80) and just-above-even-money Arriba Amigo (ditto Brennan, $4.30).
Assigned penultimate post position No. 7, Royal Cee Cee N had to wait her turn
early. Four-deep in the first turn, she eventually made the lead around
Keeper's Destiny (Jim Pantaleano) just after a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.
From there, it was a soft :29.2 second interval (:56.3 half) before
Naughtytiltheend (Brent Holland) tried it first-up. That one could never come
close in and out of the 1:24.4 three-quarters, with "Cee Cee" taking
a length-and-three-quarter lead into the lane.
She needed only to hold off the loose pocket-sitter, which she did by that same
margin in 1:52.3. Rock N Soul (Jason Bartlett), last week's victress and this
week's eight-hole beginner, rallied for third, with Naughtytiltheend and Hula's
Z Tam (Pat Lachance) completing the cashers.
For
Royal Cee Cee N, a 6-year-old Down Under daughter of Christian Cullen owned and
trained by Mark Harder, it was her seventh win (second consecutive since
hitting town) in 22 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $13.80, with the triple
returning $63.
Arriba Amigo kept the roll going, making its six wins in succession and 4-for-4
in Westchester.
Leaving from post No. 6, Arriba Amigo was immediately in play. He went up and
over Master Pine (Pantaleano) and gave nothing else a chance (:27.4, :57.2,
1:26.1, 1:55.2). The final margin was 2¼ lengths, with KLM Express (Jim Marshall
III) holding off Big Sky Storm (Jordan Stratton) for second.
Bastille (Cat Manzi) and Master Pine grabbed the minor spoils.
For Arriba Amigo, a 5-year-old Amigo Hall gelding co-owned by (trainer) Josh
Green, David Rovine and VIP Internet Stable, it was his seventh win in 19 '12
tries. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $23.20, the triple returned
$111.50 and the superfecta paid $509.
Yonkers
hosts its fourth annual Fall Harvest Festival Saturday night, highlighted by
the $400,000 Fall Harvest Series. Eight, $50,000 races for New York-bred pacers
and trotters comprise the event, which also features any number of fun, family
events on the track apron from 5:30-9:30 PM. Also, the Legislators'
Challenge--a trio of non-wagering events with New York elected officials doing
battle--takes to the track beginning at 5:30.
The
Raceway continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule, with first post
every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening
simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting
available around the NYRA schedule.
