BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, August 31,
2013--Canadian invader Michael's Power (George Brennan, $4.10) could not have
had it much simpler Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $46,000 Open Pace.
The lone leaver--from post position No.
6--Brennan and the favorite had things all their own way. Waltzing through
qualifier-like early fractions of :27.4 and :57.1, last season's Little Brown
Jug and Confederation Cup winner had 'em right where he wanted 'em.
It was Malak Uswaad N (Eric
Goodell) taking a shot from fourth going toward the 1:25 three-quarters, but he
was rebuffed. The leader, with a length-and-a-half advantage turning for home,
completed a :26.4 final quadrant (1:51.4) to prevail by a comfy
length-and-a-quarter.
China Grill outdid Flem N Em N for
second, with Domethatagain (Brent Holland) and Malak Uswaad N rounding out the
payees.
For locally-debuting Michael's Power, a 4-year-old homebred
Camluck gelding owned by Jeff Snyder and trained by Casie Coleman, it was his
third win in seven seasonal starts (career 18-for-30, earnings of $1,546,817).
The exacta paid $16.20, with the triple returning $63.
The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule continues, with first post
every Monday (including Labor Day), Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at
7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon
simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule (note that Saratoga Race Course
ends Monday, with Belmont Park opening next Saturday).
