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Friday, June 27, 2014

SEARS SWEEPS FRIDAY CO-FEATURED 44G OPEN HANDICAPS WITH “MONKEY,” “LORENZO”

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

YONKERS, NY, Friday, June 27, 2014—Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps—for distaff pacers and all-welcome trotters-- were won by millionairess Monkey on My Wheel (Brian Sears, $3.40) and Lorenzo Dream (Sears again, $12.80)

Odds-on choice Monkey on My Wheel, whose assigned eight-hole became post position No. 7  after Krispy Apple came up ill, was immediately put in play. She worked around pole-given Handsoffmycookie (Dan Dube), taking the lead before a :28.2 opening quarter-mile.

From there, it was a :57.3 half before Road Bet (Eric Carlson) moved from fifth. Monkey on My Wheel then found a 1:25.4 three-quarters, a couple of lengths to the good turning for home. An off-cover Virgin Mary (Eric Goodell) closed stoutly, but the people’s choice was tough. She held sway by a neck in 1:53.3.

Road Bet, Camille (George Brennan) and Robin Cruiser  (Jordan Stratton) came away with the remainder.   

For “Monkey,” a 6-year-old homebred daughter of Mach Three owned by Mac Nichol and trained by Casie Coleman, it was her seventh win in 16 seasonal starts (career earning just shy of $1.5 million). The exacta paid $26.60, with the triple returning $156.50.     

The week’s marquee trot saw “Lorenzo” make the first lead from post No. 7. He then had a wide-early 3-5 choice DW’s NY Yank (Brennan) get around a breaking Tober (Jason Bartlett) and make the lead before a :27.4 first sub-station. He then found next intervals of :57.4 and 1:27.2, taking a length lead in and out of the final turn.

However, Lorenzo Dream edged in and went by late, picking off the favorite by a neck in 1:55.4. Harbor Point (Dube), a tough-trip Zooming (Goodell) and Hoorayforvacation (Carlson) settled for the small change.
           
For third choice Lorenzo Dream, a 7-year-old Taurus Dream gelding owned by Vincent Laurenzo and trained by Julie Miller, it was his sixth win in 17 ’14 starts.  The exacta paid $23.80, the triple returned $263.50 and  the superfecta paid $463.50.

Note that since no one hit Friday’s 50-cent Pick 5, Saturday’s wager offers a $10,000 guaranteed pool (carryover of $2,728.32).

            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.