YONKERS, NY, Friday, March 8, 2013--Yonkers Raceway's pair of Friday night,
$35,000 co-featured Open Handicaps--for trotters along with madame pacers--were
won by Equity (Matt Kakaley, $8) and Marie's Z Tam (George Brennan, $5.90).
A funny thing happened on the way the--apparent--winner's circle for two-time
defending trot champ Affirmed Action (Jason Bartlett). Making the lead from post
position No, 7, he sauntered around the scenery through intervals of
:28.3, :58.4 and 1:27.
With neither pocket-sitting Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet Jr.) nor first-up
Brando's Muscle Man (Brennan) the latter now in the pocket after a second
move--staying with him, Affirmed Action looked home through the final turn.
Unfortunately, the whole "left-foot, right foot" thing reared its
ugly head, and Affirmed Action jumped it off an open advantage. That left
"Brando" with the lead, but Equity, slipping out behind Brando's
Muscle Man when 19-10 choice Sugar Queen Gabby (Brian Sears) gapped down the
backside, was in pursuit.
It was Equity. leaving from post No. 7, whipping "Brando" by a
half-length in a season's-best 1:56.4. Likeabatoutahell (Jordan Stratton),
Sugary Queen Gabby and Aruba Vacation completed the cashers.
For second choice Equity, a
7-year-old Kadabra gelding co-owned by Charamblos Christoforou and Banjo Farms
and trained by Ron Burke, it was his third win seven seasonal starts. The
exacta paid $34.20, with the triple returning $283.
The weekly distaff derby saw Marie's Z
Tam survive second-half slugfest with Queen of Royalty (Brent Holland) before
prevailing in 1:55.
"Marie," leaving from post No. 4, settled third as Queen of Royalty set sail through fractions of :27.4 and :58. That pokey second quarter forced Marie's Z Tam out of hibernation, and she engaged the leader through a :27.3 third quarter (1:25.3).
Queen of Royalty held a stubborn schnoz lead into the lane, but
"Marie" wore her down late. Mystical Diva (Cat Manzi) closed up ranks
from a loose pocket to grab second--beaten three-quarters of a length—with
Moonlit Dragon (Sears), Queen of Royalty and a season-debuting Katy's Jet (Dan
Dube) grabbing the small change. Hot List (Kakaley) was a non-factor sixth as
the 9-5 favorite.
For second choice Marie's Z Tam, a 7-year-old
daughter of Bettor's Delight co-owned by (trainer) Gilberto Garcia-Herrera and
Seri Reddy, it was her third (consecutive since changing hands) win in four '13
tries. The exacta paid $74.50, the triple returned $339.50 and the superfecta
paid $1,638.
The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule continues, 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
