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Saturday, December 7, 2013

YR - LET'S GO HIGHER, WISHING STONE WIN FRIDAY 37G CO-FEATURES



BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
 
            YONKERS, NY, Friday, December 6, 2013--Yonkers Raceway's Friday night $37,000 co-featured Open
Handicaps--Pace for the ladies and Trot who all who passed initiation--were won by front-end Let's Go Higher (Jason Bartlett, $6.80) and double-millionaire Wishing Stone (George Brennan, $3.30).

            In play early from assigned post position No. 3, Let's Go Higher--as the tepid 2-1 choice--played leapfrog on the lead with Cocoa Beach (Matt Kakaley). After a :27.3 opening quarter-mile and :57.3 intermission, Cheyenne Miriam (Mark MacDonald) moved from third.

            However, that bid stalled before a 1:26 three-quarters, as Let's Go Higher owned a length-and-a-half lead
into the lane. She held off a second-over Rock N Load (Jordan Stratton) by a half-length in 1:55.2. Third went to Cocoa Beach, with Sir Jillian Z Tam (Pat Lachance) and "Miriam" rounding out the payees.

            For Let's Go Higher, a 5-year-old daughter of Cole Muffler owned by Jesse DeLong and trained by Heidi Rohr, it was her 14th win in 37 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $26.40, with the triple returning $166.50. 

            The week's marquee trot saw Wishing Stone end his season with a picture. Sent postward as the 3-5 choice from his ordered eight-hole, he was wide at the outset before wedging in fifth.

            It was Melady's Monet (Dan Dube) leading through sub-sections of :28 and :58.3 with Lorenzo Dream (catch-driver Kakaley) pocketed and Brando’s Muscle Man (Eric Goodell) trying it first-up. Odds-on Wishing Stone was behind that one at the 1:27.2 three-quarters.

            An inside-the-cones Melady's Monet maintained the lead in and out of the final turn before Wishing Stone received the memo. He went by, with the margin a half-length in 1:57.1. Melady's Monet crossed the line second, but was set down to third for the above transgression.

            That moved Lorenzo Dream to second, with Zooming (Bartlett) and Elin (Larry Stalbaum) completing the cashers.  

            For Wishing Stone, a 6-year-old son of Conway Hall trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Cowboyland
Aalborg, Deo Volente Farms, J & T Silva and T L P Stables, it was his seventh win in 19 '13 tries. The exacta paid $13.80, the triple returned $43.40 and the superfecta paid $372.50. Next season, Wishing Stone begins a dual role as racehorse and stallion. 

            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 now available daily.