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Sunday, February 2, 2014

MONEY TWITCH A WINS SATURDAY NIGHT 33G OPEN PACE

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

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, February 1, 2014--Money Twitch A (Eric Carlson) kept the form spree going Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway $33,000 Open Pace.

Unhurried from post position No. 4, Money Twitch A saw both Muscle Beachboy (Eric Goodell) and Dallenbach Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) take early shots.

When they settled, it was 1-2 favorite Hypnotic Blue Chip (Jason Bartlett)--who won the draw--quarter-moving from third. "Hypnotic", unseen here since December of 2012, made the lead after a cheap, 28-second opening quarter-mile.

After a :56.3 intermission, invading Dovuto Hanover (Ron Pierce) edged from fourth, but he was essentially pacing in place. Meanwhile, Hypnotic Blue Chip seemed in control at the 1:24.3 three-quarters.

The people's choice owned a length-and-a-quarter lead into the lane...before the wheels (figuratively) fell off the sulky. Dovuto Hanover found a new life, helping the cause of a second-up Money Twitch A and a third-over Fat Man's Alley (Matt Kakaley).

They fanned out wide and wider, with Money Twitch A schnozzing Fat Man's Alley in 1:53. Third went to Dovuto Hanover, with a tiring Hypnotic Blue Chip and Lumberjack Willie (Jordan Stratton) settling for the minor spoils.

For Money Twitch A, a 9-year-old Down Under Life Sign gelding owned by William Emmons and trained by Heidi Rohr, he returned $18 (fourth choice) for his third win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $65, with the triple returning $302.50.

The feature race was about the only thing Pierce did not win, since he left with six victories on the dozen-race card (eight in his rare, two-night Westchester stay).  

Saturday’s 12-race handle was $1,105,830, a second consecutive seven-figure night and third of 2014.

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 daily.