After having waltzed through last week’s mile-and-a-quarter at Yonkers Raceway in 2:24.3, the favoured Homicide Hunter (Brian Sears, $5.50) needed a full fifth of a second more this time around (Sunday, July 30). Other than that, not much changed for the wagering public’s choice, as Homicide Hunter captured the track’s $68,000 Open Handicap Trot.

From the assigned Post 8 in the field of 11 (Springbank Sam N was scratched ‘lame’), Homicide Hunter’s job was a bit easier at the outset, as Luminosity (driven by George Brennan) and Centurion ATM (Dan Dube) both found themselves out of contention early.

Lone lass Celebrity Eventsy (Shristian Lind) made the first lead and then yielded to Rubber Duck (Joe Bongiorno). Homicide Hunter then made the lead after the :28.4 opening quarter-mile. As was the case a week ago, no ensuing issues would follow for the eventual winner, who also clicked off the half (:58) three-quarters (1:27.4) and mile (1:56.1) timers before hitting the wire first in 2:24.3.

Homicide Hunter owned a length-and-a-half lead into the lane before whipping Rubber Duck by two and three-quarter lengths. Fashion Creditor (Eric Goodell), Taco Tuesday (Jordan Stratton) and Smalltownthrowdown (Jason Bartlett) fininshed third through fifth, respectively.

For Homicide Hunter, a five-year-old Mr Cantab gelding owned by Crawford Farms Racing and trained by Chris Oakes, it was his fifth win from eight seasonal starts. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $22, with the triple returning $175.50.

Sunday’s installment of the ‘New York, New York Double’ offered a winning combination of 4-Dunk a Din (Saratoga’s 3rd race) and 2-Take My Picture (Yonkers’ 10th race) paid $10.20 for every correct $1 wager. Total pool was $3,725.

Please note that Yonkers’ post time next Sunday (August 6) is 12:30 p.m.

(With files from Yonkers Raceway)