BY FRANK DRUCKER,
Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS,
NY, Sunday, December 18, 2016—Lily’s Swan Pond (George Brennan, $25) was a
three-hole terror Sunday afternoon, winning Yonkers Raceway’s season-ending,
mile-and-a-quarter, $56,000 Open Handicap Trot.
While
a few of the nine participants—including 9-5 choice Hemi Seelster (Jason
Bartlett)—misbehaved over the moist surface, ‘Lily’ had no such issues.
From
post position No. 3, he sat behind Not Afraid (Dan Dube) and Springbank Sam N
(Jordan Stratton) though early intervals of :28.2 and :57.4.
Bentley
Spur (Joe Bongiorno), one of the back markers, tried it first-up from sixth
toward a 1:27.2 three-quarters, but couldn’t sustain a bid.
By
the 1:56.4 milepost, this was a three-horse affair. Not Afraid owned a
length-and-a-quarter into the lane, but holiday company was coming.
Lily’s
Swan Pond angled crisply out during the final turn and went up and over the two
rivals in front of him. He rolled past, winning by a length-and-half in 2:27.2.
Not
Afraid saved second over Springbank Sam N, with Tornado Tim (Brent Holland) and
a recovering Caulfield (Matt Kakaley) settling for the remainder.
For fifth choice Lily’s Swan Pond, a 4-year-old
Swan for All gelding owned by Second Chance Stable and trained by Nick Surick,
it was his fifth win in 33seasonal starts. The exacta paid $118.50, with the
triple returning $474.
The season’s final installment of the “New York,
New York Double’ offered a 1-I’masuperstar (Aqueduct’s 3rd race) and
4-Luck o’ the Irish (our 2nd race) winning combination, which
returned $25.50 for every correct dollar wager. Total pool was $4,169.
The
Raceway’s 2017 season is scheduled to begin with a Sunday, Jan. 8th,
matinee (post time TBA), pending approval of the New York State Gaming
Commission.
As
another reminder, Yonkers is completely dark for all racing wagering December
19th through 28th, inclusive.
