BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, February 3,
2018—Favored Rubber Duck (Joe Bongiorno, $4.20) and Killer Martini (Jason
Bartlett, $16.80) were the names above the marquee Saturday night (Feb. 3rd),
winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $40,000 Open Handicaps.
Rubber Duck, from assigned post position
No. 3, stuffed lass NF Happenstance (Jack Parker Jr.) in behind early in the
weekly adult-table trot. The race became a two-speed number, with Rubber Duck (:28.1, :57.3, 1:26.4, 1:56.2)
holding sway.
NF Happenstance
pulled pocket early to test the fave, but missed a half-length. Melady’s Monet
(Bartlett) rallied off a brutal trip for third, with Madhatter Blue Chip
(Jordan Stratton) and Lily’s Swan Pond (George Brennan) rounding out the
remainder.
For Rubber Duck, an 6-year-old Muscle Mass ridgling Alberta
co-owned by Blain & Erna Corbeil and trained by Jennifer Bongiorno, it was
his first win in a pair of seasonal starts. The exacta $10.60, with the triple
(three wagering choices in order) returning $28.
The week’s
pacing feature saw pole-assigned Killer Martini slip out down the backside to
race second-over. He outgamed a cone-skimming Don’tcallmefrancis (Greg Merton)
by a nose in 1:54. Dream Out Loud N (Dan Dube) put away pace-setting 2-1
choice Thisjetsabookin’ (Stratton), made the lead but faltered late.
That one
missed by a head, with a season-debuting Christen Me N (Tim Tetrick) and Gokudo
Hanover (Matt Kakaley) grabbing the minors. Christen Me N was done no favors
when a parked-the-mile Orillia Joe (Brent Holland) backed up in front of him.
For Killer Martini, a 6-year-old Camluck gelding Alberta
owned and trained by Ricky Bucci, it was—as the fifth choice--his first win in
four ’18 tries. The exacta paid $112, the triple returned $447.50 and the
superfecta paid $3,743.
Special
Saturday props to Bongiorno (driver) and Bongiorno (trainer) for a three-win
night, while Bucci and William Adamczyk each had a pair of training victories.
Sunday
‘French’ matinees return Feb. 25th (post time TBA).
