YR - ROCK N LOAD, TALL COTTON WIN FRIDAY 46G CO-FEATURES

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Dir ector, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

 

YONKERS, NY, Friday, August 23, 2013--Yonkers Raceway's Friday night $46,000 co-featured Open Handicaps--Pace for the ladies and Trot for all qualified--were won by certified bombardier Rock N Load (Dan Dube, $70.50) and repeating Tall Cotton (George Brennan, $9.90).

Pole assignee Rock N  Load was minding his business as Economy Terror (Jason Bartlett) worked around him before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile. That one then gave it up to a second move of Royal  Cee Cee N (Brian Sears).

The 6-5 choice made the lead before a :56.2 half, then rated soft (29-second) third quarter (1:25.2) with just mild pressure from Billmar Scooter (Eric Goodell). Despite the respite, Royal Cee Cee N was in trouble off the final turn.

Economy Terror edged from the pocket, Ramalama (Brennan) went wide and Sir Jillian Z Tam (Pat Lachance) even wider. However, it was the 34-1 rank outsider taking the inside route, with Rock N Load beating Sir Jillian Z Tam by a neck in 1:53.4.

Third went to a tiring Royal Cee Cee N, with Ramalama and Economy Terror rounding out the payees.

For Rock N Load, a 5-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover trained by Danny Gill for co-owners Edward Hall and James Hall Jr., it was her sixth win in 27 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $498, with the triple returning $3,938.

The featured trot saw 1-2 fave Little Brown Fox (Sears) out two turns before eventually making the lead (:28, :57).  Meanwhile,. Tall Cotton--behind the eight-ball at the start--was able to wedge into what became a five-hole.

He then moved toward the lead at the intermission, engaging the people's preference after a 1:26.1 three-quarters. Tall Cotton secured the lead early in the lane, putting away the leader, then holding off a rallying Bound for Fame (Jordan Stratton) by a head in 1:56. Third went to Calchip's Brute (Dube), with Little Brown Fox and Melady's Monet (Bartlett) coming away with the remainder.

For second choice Tall Cotton, a 7-year-old Revenue S gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by Burke, Howard Taylor, Weaver Brusecemi and Edwin Gold, he's now 6-for-17 this season. The exacta paid $63.50, with triple returning $472.50.

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.