YONKERS, NY, Friday, May 3, 2013--Yonkers Raceway's pair of Friday night $46,000 Open Handicaps--for either-gender trotters and distaff pacers--were won by Imperial Count (Tyler Buter, $7.50) and Handsoffmycookie (Dan Dube, $7.30).
Imperial Count, leaving from post position No. 7, watched early and Canadian
visitor Hesgotlegs (Mark MacDonald) worked around Political Desire (Jason
Bartlett) passing a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.
After a 56-second half, 2-1 choice Calchip's Brute (George Brennan) moved from sixth, with Imperial Count right on his tail. Hesgotlegs maintained the lead in and out of a brisk 1:25.3 three-quarters, but the fun was about to end for our friend from the north.
Calchip's Brute went on by early stretch, but all he did was tow Imperial Count
into the race and into the winner's circle. He edged past, prevailing by
three-quarters of a length in 1:54.4. That mile was the fastest locally
this season as a well a track record for an aged horse.
Third went to a third-up Monsignor Flan (Brent Holland), with Political Desire
and Hesgotlegs completed the cashers. Last week's winner and this week's
eight-hole beginner, Up Front Billy (Brian Sears), missed the memo for the start
and broke.
For second choice Imperial Count, a 5-year-old son of Angus Hall owned by Neven
Botica and trained by Nifty Norman, it was his fourth win in seven seasonal
starts. The exacta paid $46, with the triple returning $155.50.
The weekly ladies' luncheon saw millionairess statebred Handsoffmycookie--fresh off her win in last week's consolation for the Blue Chip Matchmaker--slip out and roll by.
"Cookie," leaving from post No. 5, was sitting a three-hole behind Keeper's Destiny (Sears) and2-1 fave Warrawee Koine (Jason Bartlett). It was Keeper's Destiny throwing down fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:25, with eight-hole assignee Marie's Z Tam (Brennan) living life a long way on the outside.
With Four Starz Roe (Matt Kakaley) gapping that one, Handffmycookie was able to
hang a right and find room. She went by, whipped a passing lane Warrawee Koine
by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:53.4. Royal Cee Cee N (Eric Goodell) skimmed the
cones for third, with Keeper's Destiny and Marie's Z Tam came away with the
remainder.
For second choice Handsoffmycookie, a 4-year-old daughter of Art Major owned by JFE Enterprises and trained by Scott DiDomenico, it was her second (consecutive) win in seven '13 tries. The exacta paid $33.20, the triple returned $183 and the superfecta paid $525.
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--including Saturday's Kentucky Derby program from Churchill
Downs--available around the NYRA schedule.
