BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Friday, October 24,
2014—Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night $35,000 co-featured Open Handicaps—one for
distaff pacers and one for any trotter with acceptable street cred—were won by
a pocketed Set Me Up (George Brennan, $6) and a two-move Melady’s Monet (Jason
Bartlett, $6.10).
The week’s fairer-sex feature was
strictly a two-speed number, with slight 2-1 favorite Set Me Up—in play from
post position No. 4—grabbbing the first lead before surrendering to Scandalous
Hanover (Brian Sears). That one threw down early weigh stations of :28.1 and
:58.1 as longshot Simple Saver N (Eric Carlson) tried it first-up.
A brisk, :27.3 third quarter (1:25.4)
dispatched that challenge as Scandalous Hanover owned a length-and-a-half lead
into the lane. However, Set Me Up edged in and edged past, winning by
head-fought head in 1:54.
Coffee Addict (Dan Dube) rallied well
for third, with ground-savers Seafood Annie (Larry Stalbaum) and Keystone Wanda
(Brent Holland) rounding out the payees.
For Set Me Up, a 5-year-old daughter of
Shark Gesture co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke and Weaver
Bruscemi, it was her seventh win in 30 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $22.40,
with the triple (three wagering favorites in order) returning $82.
The week’s
marquee trot saw Melady’s Monet, assigned post No, 7, left into a comfy
three-hole. It was Andie Sophia (Dan Dube) leading through intervals of (:28.1,
:57.4 and 1:26.2), with “Melady”—having taken out past the half—about to wear
that one down.
Melady’s Monet
secured the lead in and out of the final turn, then widened. The final margin
was 2½ lengths in 1:54.4 Second went to Andie Sophia, with 7-5 choice Bambino
Glide (Sears), Alternat Thursdays (Brennan) and Fortunista (Carlson) settling
for the remainder.
For second
choice Melady’s Monet, a 5-year-old Revenue S gelding trained by Melady
Enterprises and trained by Kevin McDermott, he’s now 5-for-23 this season. The
exacta paid $24.20, the triple returned $103.50 and the superfecta paid $535.
Saturday’s
stakes-stuffed program includes the $500,000 Yonkers Trot, $500,000 Messenger
Stakes, $250,000 International Trot Preview (1¼ miles), $150,854 Lady Maud and
$124,590 Hudson Filly Trot. Those races comprise a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 5
pool and there’s also a T-shirt giveaway [while supplies last]).
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.
