BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, June 23, 2018—Marion Marauder (Jordan Stratton, $3.40) returned to
Westchester Saturday night (June 23rd), winning Yonkers Raceway’s
co-featured $44,000 Open Handicap Trot.
The 2016 Trotting
Triple Crown winner, in his first local visit since finishing second in last
fall’s million-dollar Yonkers International Trot, was unsurprisingly better
than his seven inside foes. Marion Marauder just sat out there, moving from
seventh to fifth at the half (:27,
:57).
He advanced down the backside the second time, making up
ground even though they weren’t going that much up front. Marion Marauder
went three-wide around Madhatter Bluechip (Joe Bongiorno), setting his sights
on leading Bluebird Jesse (Brent Holland) passing a 1:25.3 three-quarters.
The odds-on choice took over soon after, opening a
length-and-a-half into the lane. He then held off Smalltownthrowdown (Dan Dube)
by a half-length in 1:55.1.
It was the 2016 Yonkers Trot all over again, except Stratton
(six winners during Saturday’s dozen-race card) was cast in the role of Scott
Zeron and Dube subbing for Dan Daley behind the runnerup. Daley had
Smalltownthrowdown at 2 and 3.
Third went to DW’s NY Yank (George Brennan), with Bluebird
Jesse and Madhatter Bluechip rounding out the
payees.
For Marion Marauder, a 5-year-old son of
Muscle Hill co-owned by Marion Wellwood and Devin Keeling & trained by the
tandem of Paula Wellwood and Mike Keeling (Ms. Wellwood is listed stateside),
it was his second win in four seasonal starts (career earnings up over $2.6
million). The exacta paid $37.60, the triple returned $169 and the superfecta
paid $371.50.
Saturday night’s co-featured $44,000 Open
Handicap Pace was won by Always at May Place (Brennan, $12) in 1:51.1, a 40th
career victory by far a season’s-best effort.
