BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, April 30,
2016—Season-debuting Artistic Major (Brent Holland, $15.40) and odds-on
Melady’s Monet (Jason Bartlett, $3.30) shared the Saturday night glory, winning
Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $40,000 Open Handicaps.
The week’s marquee pace had a different
look, with many of the just-concluded G-M Levy Series participants getting some
well-deserved R&R.
At the outset, Mister Bling A (Jordan
Stratton) was put in play, as was outside assignee Atta Boy Dan (George
Brennan). The latter, as the slight 3-1 choice, broke, leaving “Bling” to his
own devices (:27.4, :56.3, 1:24.4).
Fiery Lustre N (Bartlett) was pocketed,
while Artistic Major—from post position No. 2—was taking out of third. That
one, opposing all elders, engaged a tiring leader in and out of the final turn,
then put him away.
Once in front, Artistic Major held off the
foe on his back, Jeneral Patton (Pat Lachance) by a half-length in 1:52.1.
Fiery Lustre N, Mister Bing A and Domethatgain (Dan Dube) rounded out the
payees.
For fifth
choice Artistic Major, a 4-year-old son of Art Major co-owned by (trainer)
Steve Elliott, Michael Cimiglio, David Van Dusen and Gunjan Patel, his fresh
parimutuel Lasix win was his 11th in 26 career starts. The exacta
paid $177, with the triple returning $983.
The week’s
trotting feature was simple as simple of simple could be for “Melady,” who—from
post No. 7—stole away (:28.3, :58.2, 1:27.2, 1:55.1). His two-length lead entering
the lane was 2¼ lengths at the wire.
Luminosity
(Brennan) was a two-move second, with a pocket-sitting Somebody AS (Stratton)
fading to third. Home’n Dry (Dube) and Dewycolorintheline (Tyler Buter) settled
for the remainder.
For Melady’s
Monet, a 7-year-old s Revenue S gelding owned Melady Enterprises and trained by
Kevin McDermott, he’s now 3-for-4 this season (lifetime loot up over $800,000).
The exacta (two wagering favorites) paid $14.80, with the triple returning $53.
