BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Friday, October 31,
2014—Yonkers Raceway’s Halloween night $35,000 co-featured Open Handicaps—one
for distaff pacers and one for any trotter with scary moves—were won by a long,
first-up Coffee Addict (Dan Dube, $11.60) and a start-to-finish DW’s NY Yank
(George Brennan, $4.20).
Unhurried from an assigned post position
No. 5, Coffee Addict watched as 17-10 choice Campanile (Tyler Buter) moved
around Robin Cruiser (Jordan Stratton). The former made the lead right at a
:27.3 opening quarter-mile, then found a 57-second intermission.
Soon thereafter, Coffee Addict moved from fifth, and did so in a hurry. She
engaged—but could get by—Campanile in and out of a 1:25.1 three-quarters.
Campanile held on to a slim lead entering the lane, but Coffee Addict was not
quite done.
That one, despite the tough trip,
outgamed both the pace-setter and pocket-sitter, beating “Robin” by a
half-length in 1:52.2. Venus Delight (Jason Bartlett), last at the
three-quarters, closed for third, with Campanile and last week’s victress, Set
Me Up (Brennan), completing the cashers.
For fifth choice Coffee Addict, a
4-year-old daughter of Dragon Again co-owned by Keystoners James Clarke St
& Andrew Altobelli and trained by Bruce Saunders, it was her seventh win in
29 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $44.70, with the triple returning $406.50.
:27.4, :58.1, 1:26.4, 1:55
The week’s marquee trot saw 11-10 fave
DW’s NY Yank take it the distance (:27.4, :58.1, 1:26.4, 1:55). Nose on gate
from post No. 4, he left, with Lorenzo Dream (Brent Holland) dropping in
behind. From there, no issues at all, with the final margin a simple 3¾
lengths.
Second went to a chasing NF Happenstance (Jeff Gregory), with Somebody AS
(Dube), Dancehall Mistress (Brian Sears) and “Lorenzo” settling for the
remainder.
For “DW,”
a 5-year-old Dilbert Hanover gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by
(trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Howard Taylor, he’s now 10-for-27 this
season. The exacta paid $28.40, the triple returned $320.50 and the superfecta
paid $1,985.
The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule continues, with first post
every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM (note Sunday
matinees begin Nov. 9). Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs,
with afternoon simulcasting available daily.
