YONKERS,
NY, Friday, December 7, 2012--Yonkers Raceway's pair of moist Friday night,
$35,000 co-featured Open Handicaps--for distaff pacers and trotters of all
assorted alliances--were won by a sharp Keeper's Destiny (George Brennan,
$6.30) and a equally-crisp Mystical Starlight (Mark MacDonald, $5.10).
Finding a seat fifth post position No. 7, Keeper's Destiny saw 13-10 choice
Rock N Soul (Yannick Gingras) work around Ticket to Rock (Cat Manzi) before a
:28.2 opening quarter-mile. It was "Keeper's" on the move to the lead
right at the :58.3 intermission, opening a couple of lengths by the 1:26
three-quarters.
The lead was 2¾ lengths turning for home, and Keeper's Destiny was never
seriously threatened. She won by that same margin in 1:55.2, with Ace of Pace
(Mark MacDonald) closing outside to be the bridesmaid. A cone-skimming Ticket
to Rock, Chief Karen (Jason Bartlett) and Rock N Soul rounded out the payees.
For second choice Keeper's Destiny, a 6-year-old daughter of
Intrepid Seelster owned by Merlin Howse and trained by Casie Coleman (also the
co-breeders), it was her ninth win in 27 seasonal starts. The exacta paid
$82.50, with the triple returning $391.
The week's high-end trot played out a lot like the girls get-together. Here,
the mare Mystical Starlight was seated fourth from post No. 4 as Brando's
Muscle Man (Brennan) made the lead from Take My Picture (Andy Miller) after a
:27.1 opening quarter.
Mystical Starlight, as the 3-2 favorite, then confronted the leader coming to
the :57.2 half, disposing of that one well before the 1:26.1 three-quarters.
She had three lengths in and out of the final turn before winning by a
length-and-a-quarter in 1:56.3. A rallying Celebrity Bluechip (Bartlett) took
second, with "Brando," Rookie Mistake (Larry Stalbaum) and Looking
Hanover (Gingras) grabbed the remainder.
For Mystical Starlight, a 7-year-old daughter of Credit Winner owned by Glen
Hobin and trained by Ross Croghan, it was her fourth win in 28 '12 tries. The exacta
paid $24.20, the triple returned $161.50 and the superfecta paid $1,366.
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.
