BY FRANK DRUCKER,
Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS,
NY, Saturday, August 20, 2016—Centurion ATM (Steve Smith, $33.80) and Feel the
Need A (Eric Goodell, $5.10) were the names above the marquee Saturday night,
winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 co-featured Open Handicaps.
Centurion
ATM surprised in the weekly trotting feature in a first-up and first-home
effort. Away fourth from post position No. 3, he saw 9-10 choice Melady’s Monet
(Tyler Buter) led through intervals of :28, 58 and 1:27.1.
Centurion ATM moved in a hurry, disposing of
‘Melady’ just after the thee-quarters and taking off. He opened three lengths
entering the lane, then held a belated Undercover Strike (Jason Bartlett) by a
half-length in 1:55.1.
Lady’s Dude (George Brennan), Allerage Star (Dan
Dube) and Melady’s Monet rounded out the payees.
For
fifth choice Centurion ATM, a 4-year-old son of S J’s Caviar trained by Ake
Svanstedt for co-owners Courant A B and Knuttson Trotting, it was his second
win in eight seasonal starts. The
exacta paid $223.50, with the triple returning $1,613.
It
was a much better effort for ‘Centurion” than his only other local try,
breaking early and often as the odds-on choice in an elim for the 2015 Yonkers
Trot.
The
week’s adult pace saw favored Feel the Need A make it 3-for-3 since coming
stateside. From post No. 5, he two-moved before the quarter, taking over from
Doctor Butch (Brent Holland) and zipping around the pylons (:27.1, :55.3, 1:23.3, life-best 1:50.4).
Doctor Butch ducked inside, but missed a
half-length. Western Rockstar A (Joe Bongiorno) was third, with Great Vintage
(Dan Dube) and P H Supercam (Bartlett) dead-heating for fourth.
For
Feel the Need A, a 7-year-old Down Under Speed King gelding trained by Chris
Oakes for co-owners Susan Oakes and Wier All In, he’s now 5-for-14 this season.
The exacta paid $17.20, the triple returned $114.50 and the superfectas paid
$359.50/$303.50 (Great Vintage fourth/P H Supercam fourth).
Not
that since no one hit Saturday’s Pick 5 wager, Monday evening’s (Aug. 22)
gimmick begins with a carryover of $3,501.50
(50-cent base wager. races 7 through 11).
