BY FRANK DRUCKER,
Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS,
NY, Saturday, June 18, 2016—“I don’t think I have anything left to say.”
Such
was the post mortem of one Mark MacDonald Saturday night after winning six of
Yonkers Raceway’s 11 races.
One
night after Jason Bartlett won a happy half-dozen, MacDonald picked up
that gauntlet, including taking both halves of the night’s $45,000
co-features in his best-ever local work night.
MacDonald
chauffeured favored Sunfire Blue Chip ($5) to a down-the-road victory in the
Open Handicap Pace (1:51.2). “Sunfire,” from position No. 4, defeated a
pocket-sitting Doctor Butch (Dan Dube) a by length, with Artistic Major (Jason
Bartlett) a good, two-move third.
While
the pacing result was predictable, the featured trot was not so much. MacDonald
and pole-assigned Aggressive ($38) edged past E R Ellie (Jordan Stratton) by
three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3. Undercover Strike (Bartlett) was a steppy
third, while just-over-even-money fave Luminosity (George Brennan) was a
non-factor sixth.
MacDonald’s
first win of the evening was behind a first-up Northview Punter A ($11.40) in
the $18,000, second-race pace (1:52.1). He then lasted on the lead with Forty
Five Red ($7) in the $22,000, fifth-race pace (1:52).
After
putting the two features to bed, MacDonald then swept the $591 late double with
Summers Windsong ($59) in the $26,000, 10th- race trot (1:54.4), and
a pocketed Sapphire City ($25.60) in the $22,000, 11th-race pace
(1:52.2).
Not
even the MacDonald Fan Club deciphered the Saturday Pick 5, so Monday night’s
gimmick begins with a
carryover of $2,424.39
(50-cent base wager, races 7 through 11).
