BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, February 15, 2020—Favored Swansea (Austin Siegelman, $3.70) and Ostro
Hanover (Dan Dube, $7.50) both lasted on the lead Saturday night (Feb. 15th),
winning Yonkers Raceway’s pair of $40,000 Open Handicaps.
Swansea, without a
sub-par performance in forever, won the post position Nos. 6-thru-8 draw in the
week’s marquee trot. He didn’t squander it, working around Now’s the Moment
(Jason Bartlett) and leading through early intervals of 28 seconds and a :58.2
intermission. It was Melady’s Monet (George Brennan), who had found a four-hole
seat, then moving again.
‘Melady’ engaged
Swansea toward a 1:26.1 three-quarters, but in all fairness did not get that
close at first. Hill of a Horse (Brent Holland) was lurking wide from
second-over when he misbehaved. Meanwhile, Swansea opened a pair of lengths in
and out of the turn…and would need it.
Swansea was tested
late by a resurgent Melady’s Monet before holding sway by a head in 1:54.4.
Arabella’s Cadet (Jordan Stratton) closed for third, with Barry Black (Joe
Bongiorno) and Lean Hanover (Jim Marohn Jr.) settling for the minors.
For Swansea, a
5-year-old Swan for All gelding co-owned (as Triple D Stables) by (trainer)
Scott DiDomenico and Dana Parham, it was his third win in five seasonal starts
(career 23-for-50). The exacta paid $17, with the triple (three wagering
favorites in order) returned $57.50.
Ostro Hanover
disposed of his rivals in the weekly adult-table pace. From post No. 5, he
vaulted over Tookadiveoffdipper (Stratton) and finished what he started (:27.2; :56.3; 1:24, season’s-best 1:51.4).
Jack’s Legend N (Jason Bartlett) saved to the lane, then
closed well for second. Ostro Hanover, who owned a length-and-three-quarter
lead into the lane, prevailed by a diminishing half-length. Tookadiveoffdipper,
wide-down-the-backside Trump Nation (Brennan) and a returning-to-town Harambe
Deo (Marohn Jr.) came away with the small envelopes, while 17-10 choice Italian
Delight N (Holland) came first-up and faded to sixth.
For third choice
Ostro Hanover, a 5-year-old Betterthancheddar gelding co-owned by Go Fast,
B&I and VIP Internet Stables & Kapildeo Singh and trained by Rene
Allard, it was his second win in three ’20 tries. The exacta paid $21.80,
with the triple returned $111.50 and the superfecta paid $433.
