BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Friday, June 27,
2014—Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps—for
distaff pacers and all-welcome trotters-- were won by millionairess Monkey on
My Wheel (Brian Sears, $3.40) and Lorenzo Dream (Sears again, $12.80)
Odds-on choice Monkey on My Wheel, whose
assigned eight-hole became post position No. 7 after Krispy Apple came up
ill, was immediately put in play. She worked around pole-given Handsoffmycookie
(Dan Dube), taking the lead before a :28.2 opening quarter-mile.
From there, it was a :57.3 half before
Road Bet (Eric Carlson) moved from fifth. Monkey on My Wheel then found a
1:25.4 three-quarters, a couple of lengths to the good turning for home. An
off-cover Virgin Mary (Eric Goodell) closed stoutly, but the people’s choice
was tough. She held sway by a neck in 1:53.3.
Road Bet, Camille (George Brennan) and
Robin Cruiser (Jordan Stratton) came away with the remainder.
For
“Monkey,” a 6-year-old homebred daughter of Mach Three owned by Mac Nichol and
trained by Casie Coleman, it was her seventh win in 16 seasonal starts (career
earning just shy of $1.5 million). The exacta paid $26.60, with the triple
returning $156.50.
The week’s marquee trot saw “Lorenzo”
make the first lead from post No. 7. He then had a wide-early 3-5 choice DW’s
NY Yank (Brennan) get around a breaking Tober (Jason Bartlett) and make the
lead before a :27.4 first sub-station. He then found next intervals of :57.4
and 1:27.2, taking a length lead in and out of the final turn.
However, Lorenzo Dream edged in and went
by late, picking off the favorite by a neck in 1:55.4. Harbor Point (Dube), a
tough-trip Zooming (Goodell) and Hoorayforvacation (Carlson) settled for the
small change.
For third choice Lorenzo Dream, a
7-year-old Taurus Dream gelding owned by Vincent Laurenzo and trained by Julie
Miller, it was his sixth win in 17 ’14 starts. The exacta paid $23.80,
the triple returned $263.50 and the superfecta paid $463.50.
Note that since no one hit Friday’s
50-cent Pick 5, Saturday’s wager offers a $10,000 guaranteed pool (carryover of
$2,728.32).
The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule is back in business, with first
post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening
simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon
simulcasting
available daily.
