BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, June 8, 2019—A pocketed Caviart Luca (George Brennan, $7.50) and an
off-the-pace Will Take Charge (Jordan Stratton, $12.80) were the Saturday night
(June 8th) standouts, winning Yonkers Raceway’s pair of $44,000 Open
Handicaps.
It was a night
where only eight drivers were programmed, so everyone was put to work in all 10
races.
From post position
No. 4 in the weekly pacing feature, Caviart Luca made the first lead. He then
gave it up to pole-assigned, 19-10 favorite Mach it So (Mark MacDonald). The
latter led through intervals of :27.2,
:56.3 and 1:24.3.
It was soon to become a two-speed number after Pacing Major N
(Stratton) put in a rare poor effort while trying it first-over.
Mach it So owned a length-and-a-half lead into the lane, but
could not close the sale. Caviart Luca closed ranks and edged away, winning by
a length in 1:52.4. Mach it So saved second over 45-1 rank outsider Epaulette A
(Pat Lachance), with Mac’s Jackpot (Austin Siegelman) and Ideal Jimmy (Brent
Holland) rounding out the payees.
For third choice
Caviart Luca, an 8-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding co-owned (as Burke
Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura, it was his
fifth win in a dozen seasonal starts. The exacta paid $22.80, the triple
returned $173 and the superfecta paid $1,782.
The week’s marquee
trot saw Will Take Charge—from post No. 6—close in a slogging :31.1 final
quarter to win by a going-away length-and-three-quarters in 1:56.1. A
cone-skimming 9-5 choice Winning Shadow (Brennan) was a needing-room-earlier
second, with Swansea (Greg Merton), Lean Hanover (Siegelman) and Eye ofa Tiger
AS (Lachance) coming away with the remainder.
The closing effort
was made possible after Smalltownthrowdown (Jim Marohn Jr.) hung New Heaven
(Holland) through early subsections of :27.3 and :55.2. Both were heading the
wrong way soon after a 1:25 three-quarters, as was former Yonkers Trot champ
Top Flight Angel (MacDonald)…despite a perfect set-up.
For fifth choice
Will Take Charge, a 6-year-old Kadabra gelding co-owned by (trainer) Jeff
Gillis and Mac Nichol, it was his second win in seven ’19 tries. The exacta
paid $49.80, the triple returned $274.50 and the superfecta paid $3,605.
Special Saturday
props to MacDonald, who won with the 9-year-old Sunfire Blue Chip (32nd
career victory) and the 11-year-old Great Vintage (51st career
victory). Both are now trained by Gary Candell.
The Raceway’s $10,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pools begin Monday night (June 10th),
in effect every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday night. It’s a 50-cent base wager
(races 7 thru 11 Monday evening).
