It had neither the pomp nor the circumstance of the 2007 Yonkers Trot, but Green Day's 20th career victory was awfully impressive
.
The champ two seasons removed was a solid, first-up Friday night winner of Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $48,000 Open Handicap Trot. After whipping conditioned foes the past two weeks, Green Day made it three consecutive victories.
With Cat Manzi reprising his '07 role as chauffeur, Green Day--leaving from post position No. 6 as the slight 5-2 favourite--dropped in fourth. Winnin Image (Greg Grismore), from the pole, led through a :28.4 opening quarter-mile. Green Day moved quickly to engage that one right at the :58.2 intermission, with Armbro Barrister (Jeff Gregory) pocketed and last week's winner, the lass Victors Vicky (Jordan Stratton), having a hard time keeping up with Green Day.
Meanwhile, Green Day and Winnin Image dropped the gloves passing a 1:26.4 three-quarters (:28.2 third quarter), with the tandem joined at the hip turning for home.
However, Green Day edged away late, holding Armbro Barrister at bay by a neck in 1:56.1. Victors Vicky, Winnin Image and Stonebridge Diablo (Billy Dobson) completed the cashers.
For Green Day, a five-year-old Enjoy Lavec gelding trained by Jim Raymer fior wife Mary's Trillium Racing Stable, he returned $7 for his fifth win in 17 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $55, with the triple returning $267.50. Green Day's career cash went over the $954,000 plateau.
"There's really nothing different with him now then before (2007 Yonkers Trot)," Manzi said. "He's not a big horse, and he's not a whole lot faster.
"He went through a period when he was tailing off, but Jim (Raymer) has him good right now and he was very good tonight."
Friday night's co-featured, $48,000 Filly and Mare Open 'Cap Pace was decided by the two inside numbers.
Hannah Isabel (Pat Lachance), from post No. 2, was able to get to pylon-starting, 7-5 favourite Double Dream N (Brent Holland) late, winning by a half-length in a season's-best 1:53.3. Lachance adroitly guided "Hannah" back to the cones after early leader Seaswift Princess (Manzi) called it an early night.
Happy Dreamer (Jason Bartlett), Sentbytheangels (Ryan Anderson) and Pancleefandarpels (Stratton) rounded out the payees.
For Hannah Isabel, a four-year-old statebred daughter of Bettors Delight trained by Jean Drolet for co-owners Marilyn and Heiman Gross, she paid $10 (co-second choice with Seaswift Princess) for her third win in 14 '09 tries. The exacta paid $25, with the triple returning $152.50.
The undercard saw Rompaway Alvin (Grismore) blow away a high-conditioned trotting field in 1:55.3, matching the fastest local trotting mile of the season and eradicating Mack Lobell's nearly-21-year-old Westchester standard for four-year-old horses (1:57.1--then an all-age track record) in the '88 Challenge Cup.
New York Sire Stakes ladies return Tuesday night, with the $215,800 Scarsdale Trot for three-year-old fillies. Five divisions--three included in the 13-race card and two early non-bettors 6 and 6:15 p.m.--go postward.
(Yonkers Raceway)