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Saturday, June 14, 2014

CORAGGIOSO WINS FRIDAY NIGHT 44G OPEN HANDICAP TROT

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

YONKERS, NY, Friday, June 13, 2014—Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night $44,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by the greatest of ease by odds-on favorite Coraggioso (Brian Sears, $3.10).

In one notch after what figured to be his toughest challenger came up ill, Coraggioso—from post position No, 7—settled in fourth as invading Rossini (Jordan Stratton) slogged through flat sub-sections of 28 seconds and 58 seconds.

Coraggioso eased out, gradually gaining on the leader in and out of a 1:26.3 three-quarters.

Rossini was about to surrender to the people’s choice early stretch and Coraggioso widened from there. The final margin was 2¾ lengths in 1:55.1. Awesome Valley (Eric Goodell) snatched second at 30-1, with Rossini, Tall cotton (George Brennan) and Hoorayforvacation (Eric Carlson) rounded out the payees.

For Coraggioso, a 5-year-old homebred/statebred son of Conway Hall co-owned by Tom Durkin & Joe Spadaro, and trained by Julie Miller, he returned $4 for his sixth win in 14 seasonal starts (20-for-45 in his career).  The exacta paid $45.80, with the triple returning $192.

Note that Saturday’s Pick 5 (50-cent base wager, races 5 through 9) shall offer a $10,000 guaranteed pool, spiced with a $2,223 carryover. 

            The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule is back in business, 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.