BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, November 4,
2017—Favored Scott Rocks (Eric Goodell, $4.50) two-moved to happiness Saturday
night (Nov. 4th), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $50,000 Open Handicap
Pace.
In play from post position No. 5, Scott
Rocks took an early-three hole as pole-sitting The Rev (Jason Bartlett) seated
everyone.
Not content with the way the chairs were
laid out, Scott Rocks made the lead just at a :27.2 opening quarter-mile. After
a :56.1 intermission, Gratian Hanover (Brian Sears) tried it first-up from
fifth, only to be devoid of pace.
That left the outer tier in the hooves of
Orillia Joe (Brent Holland), who moved from third going toward the 1:24
three-quarters.. Scott Rocks owned a length lead into the lane, holding off
‘Joe’ by that same margin in 1:51.4.
Third went to Bakersfield (Greg Merton),
with The Rev and a returning Mossdale Conner N (Jordan Stratton) settling
for the remainder.
For Scott Rocks, a 7-year-old Rocknroll
Hanover gelding co-owned by Northfork Racing Stable & Chuck Pompey and
trained by Chris Oakes, it was his 10th win in 24 seasonal starts.
The exacta paid $16.20, with the triple returning $148.
