This Saturday afternoon (October 14), while there’s a New York State harness-record $3.3 million of Yonkers Raceway purses up for grabs, there’s also a fair chunk of change to be had by some wily handicappers.
A pair of intriguing multi-race wagers that figure to garner the bulk of the attention.
Up first—chronologically—is a $10,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool (50-cent minimum wager), comprising the last five races during the 11-race, all-stakes card (a pair of $250,000 Invitationals, the $1 million Yonkers International Trot, and the final two of eight, $225,000 New York Sire Stakes events).
The guarantee is a combined effort of Yonkers, the Standardbred Owners Association of New York and the US Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.
Not to be outdone, the New York Racing Association has become a part of the afternoon, with two of its stakes races serving as the back end of the special ’New York, New York Pick 4’ wager. The quartet of races are Yonkers’ eighth ($250,000 Harry Harvey Invitational Trot) and ninth (million-dollar International Trot), then Belmont’s eighth ($150,000 Futurity) and ninth ($200,000 Pebbles). Post time for the four races are 3:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:46 p.m. and 5:19 p.m., respectively.
The bet is hosted by NYRA and also has a 50-cent minimum, with program pages available in both track’s live programs as well as off-track simulcast books. The wager is also available through Empire City Bets, NYRA Bets and other ADW portals.
Advance wagering for Yonkers’ stakes card is available Friday (Oct. 13).
Please be aware of these other Saturday changes to Yonkers’ usual wagering format:
-- Add sixth and ninth race superfectas
-- Add a Pick 3 beginning with the ninth race
-- Remove the Pick 3 beginning with the eighth race to accommodate the start of the ‘New York, New York Pick 4’
-- Late Daily Double races ten and eleven, both also with superfectas
A reminder that Saturday’s first post is 1 p.m., five minutes after Belmont’s opener.
(Yonkers Raceway)
On a day like this Yonkers
On a day like this Yonkers should offer superfectas in all races, and a super-HiFi in the International and Invitational trots. The championship fields should have a full field of nine with a trailer. No wonder the handle there is so small relative to other tracks offering inferior products. Woodbine and Mohawk offer full and competitive fields, as well as Northfield and sometimes the Meadowlands. I love The Meadowlands when they put on a big show. Nobody does or promotes it better.