YR - UP FRONT BILLY WINS FRIDAY NIGHT $38,500 OPEN HANDICAP TROT

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

YONKERS, NY, Friday, April 26, 2013--Upstate invader Up Front Billy (Brian Sears) strolled by from a loose pocket Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $38,500 Open Handicap Trot.

Leaving from post position No. 3 as the 8-5 favorite, "Billy" left, then gave it up to double-digit proposition Perfect Rendition (Larry Stalbaum) before a :28.2 opening quarter-mile Perfect Rendition rated a :58.2 half as Political Desire (Jason Bartlett) tried it first-over.

That one didn’t make much an impression in and out of the 1:26.2 three-quarters, with Perfect Rendition opening to 2½ lengths entering the lane.

However, Up Front Billy quickly closed ranks, ducking inside and winning by a length in 1:55.3. Perfect Rendition held second, with Imperial Count (Tyler Buter), Master Pine and Political Desire (Jason Bartlett) completing the cashers.

For Up Front Billy, a 4-year-old Andover Hall gelding co-owned by (trainer) Mark Ford and Up Front Racing, he returned  $5.30 for his sixth win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $62, the triple paid $235.50 and the superfecta paid $1,564.

 

Saturday night, the Raceway presents one of its premier stakes cards of season, with the $450,000 final of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series and the $285,000 finale of the Blue Chip Matchmaker. 

The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule continues, 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.