Opens To Swansea, Jacks Legend N

Swansea and Jacks Legend N proved best Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s pair of $42,000 Open Handicaps.

Swansea and driver Austin Siegelman rolled from second-over in the week’s marquee trot, picking off a stubborn Will Take Charge (Jordan Stratton). From post position No. 5, he prevailed by a length in 1:55.1.

Will Take Charge won the scrum for the lead, an early battle which included Emoticon Hanover (Dan Dube) jumping it off and 13-10 favourite Tight Lines (Bartlett) getting stuffed back into a three-hole after he tried quarter-moving.

It was Will Take Charge laying down the law (:27.4, :57) before Pat Matters (Eric Goodell) took out of fourth. That one gave way grudgingly after a 1:25.4 three-quarters as the leader opened to a length-and-a-half entering the lane.

Swansea then closed widest and fastest, edging away late. Will Take Charge held second over a closing Meladys Monet (George Brennan), with longshots Stormy Kromer (Brent Holland) and Arabellas Cadet (Jim Marohn, Jr.) settling for the remainder. Tight Lines tired to seventh.

For fifth choice Swansea, a four-year-old Swan for All gelding co-owned by Dana Parham & Triples D Stables and trained by Scott DiDomenico, it was his 13th win in 26 seasonal starts. Swansea paid $19.20 to win.

After pacing over and through adult-table rivals in his North American purse bow, Jacks Legend N—from post No. 5—was pocketed to Hoosierland invader Saying Grace N (Holland) . That locally-debut lad threw the gauntlet (:27.1, :55.4, 1:24.2) as the pair separated themselves from the rest of the gang.

Jacks Legend N and driver Jason Bartlett pulled early against his foe, who would not cooperate. The pursuer eventually did go by, the final margin a length-and-a-quarter in 1:52. Saying Grace N was more than four lengths in front of Runrunjimmydunn N (Stratton), with The Real One (Pat Lachance) and Western Joe (Goodell) along for the rest.

For Jacks Legend N, a five-year-old Down Under Bettors Delight gelding co-owned by trainer Richie Banca along with Barbara & James Boese, it was his fifth win in nine ’19 tries. The pacer paid $3.90 to win.

Special Saturday props to the soon-to-be-retiring Bit Of A Legend N (Stratton, $3.30), who won the $20,000, ninth-race pace going away (1:54.3) for a 53rd career victory

(Yonkers)

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