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Sunday, January 31, 2016

SOMEBODY AS, PHIL YOUR BOOTS WIN SATURDAY 32G CO-FEATURES

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, January 30, 2016—A pocketed Somebody AS (Jordan Stratton, $13.40) and a down-the-road Phil Your Boots (Tyler Buter, $5.40) earned the glory Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $32,000 Open Handicaps.

The weekly featured trot saw Somebody AS—from assigned post position No. 3—watched invading Major Athens (George Brennan) led the way. The slight 2-1 choice threw down the anvil (:28.1, :57.2, 1:26), taking a length-and-a-half lead into the lane.

Red Hot Herbie (Brian Sears), who found an early three-hole, loomed at the leader in and out of the final turn, but flattened. Somebody AS though, was waiting for his shot. He ducked inside and bested a rallying Crazshana (Jason Bartlett) by a neck in 1:54.4, fastest local mile of the season.

Red Hot Herbie settled for third, with Major Athens Zooming (Buter) completed the cashers.

For third choice Somebody AS, a 7-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding trained by Anette Lorentzon for co-owners ACL Stuteri Ab and Kjell Johansson, it was his first win in two seasonal starts. The exacta paid $102.50, with the triple returning $703.

The week’s pacing feature had 17-10 choice “Phil” leave from post No. 5, steal away with a cheap (:28.0, 57.4) half. From there, the pursuers has no shot, with a :55.4 back portion (1:25.4; 1:53.3). The final margin was a  length-and-three-quarters over a good effort from Melmerby Beach (Bartlett), with Texas Terror N (Matt Kakaley), Atta Boy Dan (Brennan) and Hugh Hefner N (Stratton) settling for the remainder.

For Phil Your Boots, a 6-year-old Shanghai Phil gelding trained by Andrew Harris for owner Louis Frascella, he’s now 2-for-3 this season. The exacta (two wagering favorites) paid $12.60, the triple returning $129.50 and the superfecta paid $949.

The Raceway’s live season continues Monday night, with