BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS,
NY, Friday, December 20, 2013--The password is "penultimate," as in
next-to-last card of Yonkers Raceway's season.
Friday night's $37,000 co-featured Opens--a blind-draw Pace for the ladies and
a Handicap Trot who all with
letters of recommendation--were won by people's preference Ramalama (Matt
Kakaley, $3.40) and a last-early (Kakaley again, $7.30).
In play early from post position No. 2, Ramalama--as the 7-10 choice--worked
around pole-sitting Blissful Romance
(George Brennan), taking the lead after a :27.4 opening quarter-mile.
Then, it was an elongated move by Economy Terror (Mark MacDonald), with that
one's turn in the big chair. Economy
Terror found a :55.1 intermission before Blissful Romance moved from third. She
changed her mind, leaving Rock N Load (Jordan Stratton) first-up toward a
1:23.3 three-quarters.
That one wasn't gaining, and Ramalama pulled an antsy pocket before the final
turn. However, Economy Terror
wouldn't go down without a fight. Ramalama did prevail, however, winning by a
length in 1:52.1. Ideal in Vegas (Cat Manzi) was third--beaten fourth
lengths--with Rock N Load and Sweet Hedge (Dan Dube) settling for the minor
awards.
For
Ramalama, a 4-year-old daughter of Bettor's Delight owned by Blue Chip
Bloodstock and trained by David Duspiva, it was her 10th win in 27 seasonal
starts. The exacta paid $17, with the triple returning $53.50.
The week's marquee trot had one similar element of last week's marquee
trot...the implosion of all-age track record-holder Quick Dream (Brennan). This
time around, that one, as the 9-10 favorite, was well-situated fourth early
before doing the dance of the damned.
It was Likeabatoutahell (Dube) two-moving around last week's winner, Lorenzo
Dream (Eric Goodell), with intervals of :28, :56.3 and 1:25.1. Meanwhile, Super
Manning—unhurried from post No. 6--was continuing a long backside move,
engaging the leader in and out of the final turn.
Super Manning edged away mid-stretch, widening to 2 3/4 lengths in 1:54.4.
Third went to Justa Rebel (Stratton), with War Cry Hall (Jason Bartlett) and
And Heez Perfect (MacDonald) rounding out the payees.
For
second-choice Super Manning, a 5-year-old homebred Diamond Goal gelding owned
by Joseph Pennacchio and trained by Kevin Carr, it was his seventh win in 29
'13 tries. The exacta paid $55, the triple returned $274.50 and the superfecta
paid $1,415.
The Raceway's live schedule concludes Saturday night, with the customary 7:10
PM first post. The 2014 season is scheduled to begin Monday, Jan 6, pending NYS
Gaming Commission approval.
