YONKERS, NY, Friday, August 24, 2012--Yonkers Raceway's usual Friday night pair
of $44,000 co-featured Opens--this week handicapped for distaff pacers, but not
for trotters--were won by a repeating Rock N Soul (Jason Bartlett, $15.40) and
favored Second Hand News (Brian Sears, $3.60).
Rock N Soul, remanded outside her seven rivals, tucked in fourth as Keeper's
Destiny (Mark MacDonald) made the lead around Ticket to Rock (Cat Manzi) right
at a :26.4 opening quarter-mile. Rock N Soul was out and moving again in Turn
2, powering past Keeper's Destiny before a :55.4 intermission.
Shaky Hanover (Sears) tried her luck first-up going toward the 1:24
three-quarters, but never seriously threatened. That left Rock N Soul with a
length-and-a-half lead entering the lane. She then held off Keeper's Destiny by
a half-length in 1:52.2...matching her previous season's best. A belated, 2-1
fave Naughtytiltheend (Brent Holland) was third, with Ticket to Rock and Shaky
Hanover completing the cashers.
For Rock N Soul, a 5-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover co-owned (as Burke
Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Howard Taylor and Frank
Baldachino, it was her fifth win (as the fourth choice) in 21 '12 tries. The
exacta paid $62.50, with the triple returning $112.50.
Leaving from post position No. 3, Second Hand News had minimal issues, working
past inside number E L Rock (Dan Dube) and putting up early intervals of :28.3
and :58.3. Grain of Truth (Eric Goodell) was out from fourth, but barely
trotting in place passing a 1:27.1 three-quarters.
Second Hand News opened to a pair of lengths turning for home, then defeated E
L Rock by a measured neck in 1:55.3. Celebrity Bluechip (Bartlett), KLM Express
(Steve Smith) and MM's Lucky Boy (Holland) rounded out the payees.
For Second Hand News, a 10-year-old Pathway to Victory gelding co-owned
(as Foulk Stables) by trainer Clarence Foulk and Gary Evans, it was his sixth
win (second consecutive) in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $36.80,
the triple returned $120.50 and the superfecta paid $600.
The Raceway continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule, with first
post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening
simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting
available around the NYRA schedule.
