BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Friday, August 15,
2014—Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps—for
distaff pacers and all duly-licensed trotters--were won by the odds-on duet of
Yagonnakissmeornot (Dan Dube, $3.80) and NF Happenstance (Brian Sears, $3.30).
Yagonnakissmeornot, generously assigned post position No. 5, was thus put in
play early. She was the first leader, then giving it up to Robin Cruiser
(Jordan Stratton) before a :26.4 opening quarter-mile. After a :55.3
intermission, Virgin Mary (Eric Goodell) moved first-up from sixth.
That one actually had about a head in
front of the leader passing the 1:24.1 three-quarters, with Monkey on My Wheel
(Sears) second-up. However, “Robin” fought back and fought back, though she
could not stall a late surge by “Yagonnakissme.”
The people’s choice snuck past, winning
by a neck in 1:52.1, Monkey on My Wheel, Virgin Mary and Classy Lane Rose
(Brent Holland) rounded out the payees.
For Yagonnakissmeornot, a 5-year-old
daughter of The Panderosa co-owned (as Allard Racing) by (trainer) Rene Allard
and Kapildeo Singh, it was her ninth win in 21 seasonal starts. The exacta paid
$11.60, with the triple (two wagering favorites in order) returning $33.80.
The week’s
marquee trot saw newly-sold NF Happenstance pay immediate dividends. Assigned
post No. 4, she and Lorenzo Dream (Eric Carlson) alternated through early
intervals of :28.1 and :58. The favorite retook before the half, then saw Bingo
Queen (Brent Holland) try it first-up. That one offered mild grief in and out
of a 1:26.3 three-quarters.
NF Happenstance
opened a couple of lengths in and out of the final turn, then rebuffed a
closing “Lorenzo” by a head in 1:55.2. Bingo Queen held third, with Tober
(Jason Bartlett) and Harbor Point (Dube) claiming the minor awards.
For NF Happenstance, a 4-year-old
daughter of SJ’s Caviar owned by William Weaver and trained by Noel Daley,
she’s now 9-for-20 this season. The exacta paid $11, the triple returned
$90 and the superfecta paid $331.50.
Also Friday. 92-1 bomb Cosmicpedia (Dube) lit up the to the tune of $187 when
he won the $16,000, seventh race pace. That number led a $1,048 exacta
(Superbowl Party second) and $3,624 triple (Aussie Reactor A third).
Later on, there was “only” a 51-1 winner…Be Pacific (Goodell, $105.50) in
the $18,000, 10th race pace.
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.
-30-
