YONKERS,
NY, Friday, January 25, 2013--Yonkers Raceway's pair of snowflake-themed Friday
night $35,000 Open Handicaps--for distaff pacers and trotters of either
gender--were won by Chief Karen (Larry Stalbaum, $21.20) and Master Pine (Jim
Pantaleano, $68).
Watching early from post position No. 5 (in one notch after an inside scratch),
"Karen" saw a wide Hot List (Matt Kakaley) make the lead from her
outside venue. She worked around Warrawee Koine (Jason Bartlett) before a :27.2
opening quarter-mile.
After a :56.3 intermission, last week's victress, this week's 19-10 choice
Don't Point At (Jeff Gregory), moved from fifth, with Chief Karen slightly
gapping that one at the 1:25.3 three-quarters. Southwind Jazmin (George
Brennan) launched a wide bid from the back of the bus.
Hot list maintained a lengths lead in and out of the final turn, but company
was closing in. Warrawee Koine ducked inside, with Chief Karen finding her best
stride outside. The latter whipped the former by a head in 1:54.3. Hot List
saved the bottom of the ticket, with Southwind Jazmin and Don't Point At
settling for the minor spoils.
For sixth choice Chief Karen, a 7-year-old daughter of Camluck co-owned by
Curran Racing and Adam Michael and trained by Heidi Rohr, it was her second win
in three seasonal starts (fourth in five dating to end of last season). The
exacta paid $94, with the triple returning $580.
Affirmed Action, off those comfy fractions and only token, first-up pressure
from Enrico AS (Brennan), had a length-and-a-half lead into the lane. However,
he put up minimal resistance as Master Pine zipped up the cones, winning by
three-quarters of a length in 1:57.1. Affirmed Action held second, with 9-10
fave Sugar Queen Gabby (Mark MacDonald) rallying from last to grab third.
Enrico AS and Looking Hanover (Brian Sears) rounded out the payees.
For sixth choice Master Pine, a 10-year-old Master Lavec gelding trained by
Julie Miller for co-owners Mark Moger and Albert Delia Jr., it was his first
win in a couple of '13 tries. The exacta paid $418, the triple returned $1,107
and the superfecta paid $4,329.
The Raceway continues its 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.
