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Saturday, November 1, 2014

COFFEE ADDICT, DW’S NY YANK WIN FRIDAY 35G CO-FEATURES

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.