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Saturday, November 3, 2012

YR - HYPNOTIST WINS SATURDAY NIGHT 35G OPEN HANDICAP PACE

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

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, November 3, 2012--Inside assignee Hypnotist (Larry Stalbaum, four winners on the 12-race card) ducked inside and picked off Silent Swing (Mark MacDonald) Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $35,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Silent Swing, as the 11-10 choice, was the lone leaver. From post position No 3., he put up early intervals of :27.4 and :57.2. Down the backside toward the 1:25.2 three-quarters, Classic Rock Nroll (Eric Goodell) moved from third, but not without some coaxing. 

Meanwhile, Silent Swing owned a length-and-a-half lead into the lane, but could not close the sale. Hypnotist went in and went by, prevailing by a neck in 1:53. Classic Rock Nroll did get into second, with Silent Swing, Sapphire City (catch-driver Pat Lachance) and Code Word (Jason Bartlett) rounding out the payees. 

For Hypnotist, an 8-year-old Astreos gelding owned and trained by Ettore Annunziata, he returned $38.40 (sixth choice) for his ninth win in 37 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $232.50, with the triple returning $593.

Yonkers' final stakes night of the season goes next Saturday night (Nov. 10), with the $415,820 Messenger Stakes (3-year-old colts/geldings)--final jewel of the pacing Triple Crown--and its companion event, the $229,440 Lady Maud Pace (3-year-old fillies). Both races are to be drawn Tuesday afternoon.

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.