YONKERS’ THURSDAY PICK 5 FEATURES $3,704 CARRYOVER

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Thursday, November 20, 2014—Just a friendly reminder from Yonkers Raceway that Thursday night’s Pick 5 wager begins with a carryover of $3,704.27.

The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager offered on races 5 through 9 nightly. It has no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners (as was the case Monday), the entire pool (minus takeout) moves to the next racing program

Breeders Crown Horse Being Tested Before Racing at The Meadowlands

East Rutherford, NJ - As part of the continuing effort to insure a level playing field for those horsemen racing at The Meadowlands, samples have been taken from many of the horses competing in Breeders Crown races this weekend and will be sent to various labs equipped with the most current testing equipment available at the expense of The Meadowlands.

A number of trainers that ordinarily would not be competing at The Meadowlands will race in the Breeders Crown due to the rules for paid in events that govern these races. Their horses will be tested, along with a cross-section of all other trainers.

The Meadowlands requires all trainers to complete and sign a racing application that provides for out-of-competition testing at the request of the track before they participate at the meet.

"I'd like to be crystal clear on this issue. My partners and I did not make the financial investment, nor do we intend to endure the endless parade of headaches associated with running the Meadowlands in order to provide a place for dishonest people to race their horses," was Chairman Jeff Gural's statement on the topic.

"We thank the horsemen for being cooperative in the testing procedures as we continue to try and level the playing field for all of the participants. We wish safety and success to everyone," said Meadowlands General Manager / CEO Jason Settlemoir.

Cal Expo Saturday Barn Notes

Mar Dream giving it everything he has

By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness

The record shows that Mar Dream has had to settle for the runner-up spot in his last four starts, but it certainly hasn’t been for lack of trying.

The 6-year-old son of Cambest, who races for the team of owner William Neumeister, trainer Bob Johnson and pilot Mooney Svendsen, won his first two starts at this meet while racing with modest conditioned company and has spent his last four outings squaring off against the best on the grounds in the Open Pace.

“Bill bought him back in September in Indiana from Gregg Wright,” Johnson informed. “He was a little disappointing for us back there, but he’s thrived since he’s come out here and gone some really nice miles.”

Two weeks ago, Mar Dream played the role of stalker and came up a neck short of catching heavily-favored A Real Miracle. In his most recent appearance, he turned in a solid first-over effort and fell a half-length short of holding off the Canadian invader Cenalta Power.

“I thought he could have won that race two back if he got out just a bit earlier, and his last race was very game because he was taking the worst of it,” Johnson noted. “Mooney said he absolutely raced his guts out last time.

“This is a class horse with a 1:50 2/5 mark. He’s come into his own here and I think the combination of the weather and the track are the main reasons. I’m looking forward to racing him some more.”

Open Pace brings out sharp performers

Cenalta Power, who made an impressive local debut in last week’s clash at the head of the class; the hard-knocking Mar Dream and beaten favorite A Real Miracle get a rematch in Saturday’s Open Pace, which headlines the 12-race program. First post is 6:10 p.m.

A reminder that racing is now being conducted under the Watch and Wager LLL banner on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Beginning December 26, Friday night action will be added to the mix.

Looking at the main event, Cenalta Power is a 5-year-old son of Brandon’s Cowboy who is owned, trained and driven by Ryan Grundy. A 1:53 victor in Canada, he made his United Sates debut in last week’s Open and pulled off a $25.80 surprise.

Leaving from the cozy rail slot in that affair, Grundy sat a tracking trip and then came a sparkling :26 4/5 final quarter to be up by a head for the 1:53 3/5 score, with Mar Dream his most immediate victim. Odds-on A Real Miracle made up a lot of ground through that fast last fraction to finish third.

Mar Dream started the meet with back-to-back wins over conditioned rivals and has now completed the exacta in four straight appearances for owner William Neumeister, trainer Bob Johnson and pilot Mooney Svendsen. He has only been denied by a neck and a head in the last two outings.

A Real Miracle will be looking to make amends after finding himself with too much work to do in the stretch last time at 90 cents on the dollar. The 4-year-old son of Real Desire is conditioned by Junior Wilkinson, who also co-owns with Billie Schwartz and Ivan Axelrod and Luke Plano will once again handle the lines. Completing the cast are St Lads Lotto and Pointsman.