BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Friday, September 12,
2014—Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps—one for
distaff pacers and one for trotters of any gender that’s out there--were won by
a from-last Royal Cee Cee N (Brian Sears, $15) and Somebody AS (Dan Dube,
$17.60) on a night Brian Sears won six races on the card..
Unhurried from outside her seven rivals, Royal Cee Cee N saw last week’s victress, Venus Delight (Jason Bartlett), out past a :27.1 opening quarter-mile and into Turn 2 before making the lead. The slight 2-1 choice then rated a :56.2 intermission before Classy Lane Rose (Dube) moved from fifth.
However, she didn’t continue that bid in
and out of a 1:24.4 three-quarters, forcing Campanile (Eric Carlson) wide and
Royal Cee Cee N even wider.
Venus Delight opened a couple of lengths
in and out of the final and looked home…and a relentless close by Royal Cee
Cee N. Sixth—nearly five lengths back--turning for home, she snapped
“Venus” on the money, winning by a nose in 1:53.3. Campanile, Set Me Up (George
Brennan) and Strings (Eric Goodell) rounded out the payees.
For millionairess and fifth choice Royal
Cee Cee N, an 8-year-old Down Under daughter of Christian Cullen owned and
trained by Mark Harder, it was her sixth win (third consecutive and 40th
career) in 24 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $114, with the triple returning
$293.50.
The week’s marquee trot was a two-speed
number, with 2013 Yonkers Trot champ Dewycolorintheline (Jordan Stratton)
putting up intervals of :28.1, :58.3, 1:26.3, all the while shadowed by
Somebody AS. The latter, after an early sequester from post position No. 4, went
inside and went by. The margin was three-quarters of a length in 1:55.
Wishing Stone (Brennan), last week’s
winner--and this week’s 9-5 choice--Traverse Seelster (Tyler Buter) and
Obrigado (Brent Holland) completed the cashers.
For fourth choice Somebody AS, a
5-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding co-owned by Acl Stuteri AB & Kjell
Johansson and trained by Anette Lorentzon, he’s now 4-for-15 this season. The
exacta paid $90, the triple returned $847 and the superfecta paid $2,806.
The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule continues, with first post
every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday ($1.8 million New York
Night of Champions) at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live
programs, with afternoon simulcasting available daily.
