YONKERS,
NY, Friday, January 18, 2013--Yonkers Raceway's pair of Friday night $35,000
Open Handicaps--for distaff pacers and trotters of any particular
persuasion--were won by Don't Point At (Jeff Gregory, $20.40) and Looking
Hanover (Brian Sears, $5.10).
Don't Point At, last among the seven early, watched as reformed claimer Hot
List (Matt Kakaley) made the lead from her outside starting venue. Caught wide
at the outset, she worked around Bet on Luck (Jim Pantaleano) after a :27.2
opening quarter-mile.
Hot List caught a breather with a :56.4 intermission before last week's
victress, Southwind Jazmin (George Brennan), made her second move. After
tucking fifth, the 4-5 choice engaged the leader in and out of the 1:24.2
three-quarters, employing the same MO as a week ago.
However, she was repelled this time around as Hot List took a length lead into
the lane. Ocean's Motion had ducked inside for the drive, but she wasn't the
problem. It was a third-over Don't Point At getting to the leader late.
She whipped a stubborn Hot List by a half-length 1:53. Ocean's Motion
earned the bottom of the ticket, with Southwind Jazmin and Ace of Pace (Jordan
Stratton) grabbing the remainder.
For fourth choice Don't Point At, a 6-year-old daughter of At Point Blank
trained by Noel Daley for owner William Weaver III, it was her second win in
three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $111.50, with the triple returning
$1,312.
The week's featured trot was a handy win for the 3-2 fave Looking Hanover.
Leaving from post No. 5, he two-moved to the lead, getting by Mymomsablizzard
(Larry Stalbaum) right at the :28.2 opening quarter. From there, a :57.2 half
and 1:26.1 three-quarters. Affirmed Action (Jason Bartlett) came first-up and
tucked third after Hurrikanebiggeorge (Brennan) backed up, leaving Celebrity
Bluechip (Kakaley) to pick up that gauntlet.
Meanwhile, Looking Hanover owned a length-and-a-half lead into the lead before
winning by a comfy length-and-three-quarters in 1:55.1. Affirmed Action
earned the place battle over Mymomsablizzard, with last week's winner, a
from-last-this-week Sugar Queen Gabby (Mark MacDonald) and Celebrity Bluechip
coming away with the minor spoils.
For
Looking Hanover, an 8-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding trained by Edwin Gannon
Jr. for co-owners Dawn Marie Gannon and Yannick Gingras, it was his first win a
pair of '13 tries. The exacta paid $28.40 the triple returned $142 and the
superfecta paid $1,049.
The Raceway continues its 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.
