BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, July 29,
2017—There’s valor, there’s discretion and there’s Evenin’ of Pleasure (George
Brennan, $3.40).
Horse and driver took the latter tact
Saturday night (July 29th), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $55,000 Open
Handicap Pace.
In play from same post position No. 6 he conquered in last week’s marquee pace,
odds-on Evenin’ of Pleasure was again wide leaving. This time, however, instead
of being hung out in the hinterlands, he deferred, taking a seat as the floor
show unfolded in front of him.
Western Dynasty (Greg Merton), Dynamic
Youth (Carl Cito Jr.) and Great Vintage (Eric Goodell) mixed it up early, as in
a :26.3 opening quarter-mile. Great Vintage won the early scrum, with Evenin’
of Pleasure settling fifth and staying there through the :55.3 intermission.
He then moved to chase a first-up Texican
N (Jordan Stratton) as that one advanced toward a 1:24 three-quarters.
Great Vintage owned a length lead into the
lane, but he was done. Evenin’ of Pleasure rolled from second-over, winning by
a length-and-a-half in 1:52.3. Sharp shipper Hickory Icon (Mark MacDonald)
closed from third-over into second in his first local appearance since last
fall. Dynamic Youth, Western Dynasty and Texican N rounding out the payees.
Great Vintage backpedaled to last among
the octet.
For Evenin’ of
Pleasure, a 7-year-old son of Dragon Again owned by Gestion J Y Blais and
trained by Ron Burke, it was his third win in nine ’17 tries. The exacta paid
$29, with the triple returning $165.
Yonkers offers up the third of eight consecutive
Sunday matinees (July 30th), with a first post of 11:30 AM
