A pocketed Caviart Luca and an off-the-pace Will Take Charge were the Saturday night (June 8) standouts, winning Yonkers Raceway’s pair of $44,000 Open Handicaps.

From post position four in the weekly pacing feature, Caviart Luca made the first lead. He then gave it up to pole-assigned, 4-5 favourite Mach It So. The latter led through intervals of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:24.3. From there it soon became a two-speed number after Pacing Major N put in a rare poor effort while trying it first-over.

Mach It So owned a length-and-a-half lead into the lane, but could not close the sale. Caviart Luca closed ranks and edged away, winning by a length in 1:52.4. Mach It So saved second over 45-1 Epaulette A with Macs Jackpot and Ideal Jimmy rounding out the payees.

For third choice Caviart Luca, an eight-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura, it was his fifth win in a dozen seasonal starts. George Brennan drove the $7.50 winner. The exacta paid $22.80, the triple returned $173 and the superfecta paid $1,782.

The week’s marquee trot saw Will Take Charge—from post six—close in a slogging :31.1 final quarter to win by a going-away length-and-three-quarters in 1:56.1. A cone-skimming 9-5 choice Winning Shadow was a needing-room-earlier second, with Swansea, Lean Hanover and Eye Ofa Tiger AS coming away with the remainder.

The closing effort was made possible after Smalltownthrowdown hung New Heaven through early subsections of :27.3 and :55.2. Both were heading the wrong way soon after a 1:25 three-quarters, as was former Yonkers Trot champ Top Flight Angel despite a perfect set-up.

For fifth choice Will Take Charge, a six-year-old Kadabra gelding co-owned by (trainer) Jeff Gillis and Mac Nichol, it was his second win in seven ’19 tries. Jordan Stratton drove the $12.80 winner. The exacta paid $49.80, the triple returned $274.50 and the superfecta paid $3,605.

Special Saturday props to MacDonald, who won with the nine-year-old Sunfire Blue Chip (32nd victory) and the 11-year-old Great Vintage (51st victory). Both are now trained by Gary Candell.

The Raceway’s $10,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pools begin Monday night, June 10, in effect every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday night. It’s a 50-cent base wager (Races 7 thru 11 Monday evening).

(with files from Yonkers Raceway)