BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Tuesday, April 21, 2015—She was a late replacement, but Monica Banca was more
than on time when it counted.
Filling in for
originally-scheduled participant Robert Krivelin, Ms. Banca handily defended
the honor of both country and gender, guiding Meadowview Arny ($7.40) to a
decisive Tuesday afternoon win in Yonkers Raceway’s French-American Friendship
Competition.
Leading at every
pylon in the $15,200 event, pole-sitting “Arny” threw down intervals of :31.2,
1:02.1, 1:33.1 and 2:03, before finishing his work day 3¼ lengths in front of
9-10 favorite Amalfi Coast (Peter Kleinhans), who closed from ninth in the 10-horse
field. The mile-and-quarter went in 2:32.2.
French drivers
Romain Poree (Sun of a Victory), Christophe Roszak (Prince Lauxmont) and Michel
Poirier (He’sgotlegs) finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
France’s Sophie Blanchetiere, the other woman in this competition,
finished seventh with 87-1 outsider Mr. Invincible.
For second
choice Meadowview Arny, a 7-year-old Ken Warkentin gelding trained by Ms.
Banca’s partner, Rick Dane Jr., for owner Stephanie Mitchell, it was his fourth
win in 11 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $15.80, with the triple returning
$66.
The
competition was the last of five races during the French-centric matinee
program, which again featured overflow trotting fields at the added, 1¼-mile
distance.
“It was my plan
to try and be in front,” Banca said. “He’s such a big, strong horse and doesn’t
mind the distance races. I’m just so excited.” Ms. Banca, a native of Norway,
won her 10th career race as a driver.
Ms. Banca, it
should be noted, is one of the mover and shakers for the Raceway’s initiatives
in the fight again breast cancer. Last fall, she organized pink blanket
sponsorships for winning horses, along with pink whips carried by drivers.
