Opens Co-Featured; Yonkers Adds Wager

Published: May 13, 2011 10:26 pm EDT

Slight wagering favourite Delightful Diva (George Brennan) was first-up and first home Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $43,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace

.

Assigned post position No. 7, "Diva" left for a seat fourth. In the meantime, a three-wide Symphony In Motion (Dan Dube) made the lead after a snappy :26.3 opening quarter-mile. The one found a :55.2 half, with Shanghai Lil (Jordan Stratton) pocketed and Delightful Diva ready for her second move.

Delightful Diva challenged in and out of the 1:23.4 three-quarters, with Cannae Cammie (Jason Bartlett) second-over and Rev Me Up (Cat Manzi) moving wide behind that one.

All the while, Symphony In Motion clung to a short lead turning for home. Delightful Diva collared her prior to the 1:52.4 mile marker, before getting the mile-and-one-sixteenth in two minutes flat. Hulas Z Tam (Pat Lachance) closed from seventh to snatch second--beaten a half-length--with Shanghai Lil, Rev Me Up and Cannae Cammie grabbing the remainder.

For Delightful Diva, a six-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight trained by Lou Pena for KDM Stables, she returned $7.50 for her fourth win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $94.50, with the triple returning $393.

Friday night's co-featured $43,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by a pocket-patrolling KLM Express (Jim Marshall III).

That one watched as tepid 2-1 choice Stand Guard (Lachance) threw down intervals of :27.3, :57 and 1:26.

With the back markers converging in and out of the final turn, Stand Guard stood his ground. He held sway at the 1:56 mile, but was nailed late. The pocket pursuer ducked inside, winning by a half-length in an added-distance 2:02.4.

Whata Hustler (Bartlett), Wuthering Hanover (Stratton) and I Look Special (Brennan) earning the minor moolah.

For KLM Express, a nine-year-old CR Excalibur gelding owned by Richard Aiken and trained by William Aiken, he returned $12.40 (fifth choice) for his third win in 11 '11 tries. The exacta paid $76, with the triple returning $321.50.

Yonkers Raceway will add a third Pick 3 to its wagering menu, beginning this Thursday night (May 19).

The new wager encompasses Races 8 though 10, joining the existing Pick 3's from Races 2 through 4 and Races 5 through 7.

"Our fans have told us they'd like to see more multi-race wagers, so we're offering another Pick 3 as part of every card," general manager Bob Galterio said.

Yonkers will be dark for live racing Thursday, June 2 and Friday, June 3. This short hiatus was included in the original 2011 live schedule. So, for the week of May 30, Yonkers races Monday (Memorial Day), Tuesday (May 31) and Saturday (June 4).

The regular five-night-per-week live schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) resumes the week of June 6.

Daytime simulcasting continues around the NYRA schedule.

(With files from Yonkers Raceway)

Tags
Have something to say about this? Log in or create an account to post a comment.