BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Monday, August 28, 2017—Faced
with a scenario for which there was no rule in place, Saturday night’s $500,000
final (Sept. 2nd) of Yonkers Raceway’s 63rd Yonkers
Trot shall go postward with a field of nine 3-year-olds.
The odd circumstance came about after Di
Oggi and Southwind Hydro finished in a dead-heat for fourth in the second of
last weekend’s two elimination races. Since the first four trotters in each
earn berths into the final and Yonkers Trot conditions did not allow for
‘heaters’ to determine finalists, Raceway management decided to permit both
horses into the race.
(Author’s aside…provisions for such future
instances shall be addressed when the race conditions are amended to separate
‘by lot’ when necessary.)
That said, elimination (purse $40,000
each) winners Guardian Angel AS (Jason Bartlett) and Yes Mickey (Ake Svanstedt)
drew post position Nos. 4 and 6, respectively. The Trot, second jewel of the
Trotting Triple Crown, goes as the fifth race (approx.. post time 8:35 PM).
The draw, with each horse racing
independently, is as such…
1-Devious Man (Andy Miller), 2-Di Oggi
(Montrell Teague), 3-Southwind Cobra (Matt Kakaley), 4-Guardian Angel AS (Jason
Bartlett), 5-Southwind Hydro (Marcus Johansson), 6-Yes Mickey (lone gelding,
Ake Svanstedt), 7-Money Macintosh (Jordan Stratton), 8-Another Chapter (Dan
Dube), 9-Top Flight Angel (Brian Sears, second tier).
The 62nd Messenger (race No. 4,
approx.. post 8:15 PM) had not such “sponsor’s exception” issues after Art
Rooney Pace winner Downbytheseaside matched the fastest local pacing mile of
the season (1:51). He won last Saturday’s (Aug. 26th) lone $40,000
elim by 8½ unasked lengths.
He does, however, have to negotiate post
No. 7 in this Saturday night’s half-million-dollar second jewel of the Pacing
Crown, also for 3-year-olds.
That eight-on-the-gate draw played out
this way…1-Mac’s Jackpot (g) (Bartlett), 2-Summer Side (Tim Tetrick), 3-Miso
Fast (Kakaley), 4-Art Scene (Stratton), 5-Funknwaffles (g) (Corey Callahan),
6-Blood Line (Mark MacDonald), 7-Downbytheseaside (Sears), 8--Henry the Dragon
(Teague). As with the Trot, all entrants race uncoupled.
The ladies’ companion events, for soph
lasses, are the one-dash-for-the-cash $119,010 Hudson Filly Trot and $113,880
Lady Maud Pace
The Hudson goes as the third race (approx.
post 7:55 PM)… 1-Dangle Then Deke (Eric Goodell), 2-Chapter Too (Jeff Gregory),
3-Lexie Marie (George Brennan), 4-Celebrity Ruth (Bartlett), 5-Mamora Bay (Sam
Schillaci), 6-Sunshine Delight (Brettt Miller), 7-Evelyn (Andy Miller), 8-Ice
Attraction (Svanstedt).
The Maud wraps the stakes portion as the
sixth race (approx.. post 8:55 PM)…1-Angel’s Pride (Kakaley), 2-Tori Hanover
(MacDonald), 3-Awash (Stratton), 4-Gurl Band K (Yannick Gingras),6- Ella
Christina (Tetrick), 6-Robin J (Bartlett), 7-World Apart (Bartlett also
listed).
Program changes shall be made Tuesday
afternoon (Aug. 29th). Post time for the dozen-race card is the
usual 7:10 PM.
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