Although he’s established himself as one of the top open trotters in New York over the past few years, seven-year-old trotter Cash Me Out is still in search of an elusive victory in the Open Trot at Yonkers Raceway. He connected in a local Preferred on May 28, 2017 and has finished second in the local Open five times, including losses by a neck, head, and nose.

“He’s won the Open at the Meadowlands a couple times, a bunch of Opens at Saratoga. I’ve had a bunch of seconds, but just haven’t got it done yet at Yonkers,” trainer Kyle Spagnola said. “It just hasn’t worked out yet. There’s always been one that’s either gotten a good trip or one that’s just laid over the field, a lot of excuses, but hopefully it happens one of these days.”

Cash Me Out, winning at Saratoga

Cash Me Out will get another chance to post his first Yonkers Open win Sunday (January 21) when he faces eight rivals in the $50,000 feature. Carded as Race 1 on the program, the 1-1/4 mile trot also features Dog Gone Lucky, Tight Lines, and Meladys Monet. First post time on the French Sunday is 11:30 a.m.

Owner Traylor Racing sent Cash Me Out to Spagnola in July 2015. By then, the son of Cash Hall had already established himself as a top horse in New York. He won or placed in four New York Sire Stakes legs as a two-year-old and finished third in the final and at three, he won or placed in another five Sire Stakes divisions for Mickey and Cheryl McGivern.

“The McGiverns did very well with him as a two- and three-year-old in the Sire Stakes program. That definitely got him started up the ladder with the money and he turned out to be a good racehorse,” Spagnola said. “He was one of the first horses I got for (Traylor Racing). That was definitely an exciting phone call to get. He was kind of off his game, he wasn’t really sharp when I got him, I don’t know why. He came back around.”

Although he is an easy horse to drive, Spagnola admits Cash Me Out isn’t one to turn your back on in the barn. “He’s actually kind of a bully in the barn, thinks he’s tough. You’ve got to be a little careful around him,” he said. “He just tries to kick and bite you. I don’t think he means it, but he can intimidate you, anyway. Jogging him, he’s the nicest horse to jog. He’s very easy on the track, he’s pretty easy to drive. Cash Halls all kind of have a little attitude. Unless you have a carrot, he’s got his ears back.”

Cash Me Out won 11 of 37 races for Spagnola in 2016 and 10 of 30 in 2017, earning $196,850 and $196,840 in each year, respectively. Although he narrowly missed achieving his goal of $200,000 in earnings in a single season, Cash Me Out has become one of Spagnola’s best horses to date, sporting career earnings of $851,839.

“My goal the last two years was to get him over $200,000. I’ve come up short by a few thousand bucks the last two years. The Yonkers money definitely helps,” Spagnola said. “He means a lot to me. It was a privilege to get him and if everybody had one of him in the barn, it makes it a lot easier.”

Cash Me Out brought Spagnola to the biggest race of the young trainer’s career last fall. After finishing second beaten a nose in the Open Trot October 7, he received an invitation to the $250,000 Harry Harvey Trot on the International Trot undercard. Although bettors dismissed him at odds of 33/1, Cash Me Out still earned a fourth-place check.

“I kind of had a feeling, just going by the money and the horses who were still racing that time of year who could get around a half. I kind of had a feeling he might get invited,” Spagnola said. “They actually called me the night before the draw and they invited me. He finished second and before they even showed the replay, Steve Starr called and asked if I wanted to race him there. Of course, I said yes.”

Since the Harry Harvey Trot, Cash Me Out has put together an impressive string of top-three finishes, only missing the board once in his last nine starts. He enters this week’s Open Trot off a runner up finish in last week’s trotting feature, where Money Maven beat him a neck. Cash Me Out drew post nine and is 5/1 on the morning line.

“I have a good post because he doesn’t need to be on the lead. Now, not having the passing lane, the two-hole really isn’t that good. I think he’ll get away probably fifth in there and try to be first- or second-over,” Spagnola said. “The passing lane definitely changes his racing style. Usually he can just leave and sit the two-hole. He really likes that trip. Now, with no passing lane, you either have to get lucky or be out real early.

“I think you’re better off getting away fourth or fifth now with that racing style and the mile-and-a-quarter definitely makes it interesting,” he continued. “I think he likes the mile better, but he doesn’t seem to have too much trouble with the mile-and-a-quarter. It’s tougher on him, I think. I think it’s tougher on any horse, but I think he prefers a mile.”

In addition to the Open Trot, Sunday’s card features six other French trots with overflow fields at the 1-1/4 mile distance.

(SOA of NY)