The next time Meladys Monet throws in a bad race would probably be the first time Meladys Monet throws in a bad race.

It was win No. 63 (in start No. 207) for Meladys Monet Saturday night (Feb. 22), taking down Yonkers Raceway’s $35,000 Preferred Handicap Trot.

Meladys Monet—the odds-on favourite from assigned post 7—left around both Lean Hanover and Smalltownthrowdown. Once on the point, Meladys Monet finished what he started, setting a clip of :27.2, :57.3 and 1:26. Pappy Go Go tried first over from last among those trotting, but tired.

Meanwhile, Meladys Monet owned a pair of lengths in and out of the final turn, then whipped Lean Hanover by a length in a season's-best 1:54.3. Third went to Mostinterestingman, with Smalltownthrowdown and Money Maven rounding out the payees.

For Meladys Monet, an 11-year-old homebred Revenue S gelding owned by Melady Enterprises and trained by Hermann Heitmann, it was his second win in seven seasonal starts (career earnings in excess of $1.63 million). George Brennan drove the $3.90 winner. The exacta paid $17.80, with the triple returning $101.50.

Saturday night’s $40,000 Open Handicap Pace saw outsider Tookadiveoffdipper beat both the gate and his half-dozen rivals.

From post 6, Tookadiveoffdipper left to immediate command well before a :27.1 opening quarter. Season-debuting Macs Jackpot, as the 19-10 second choice, ducked into a chasmic pocket. It was an antsy two-hole that Macs Jackpot tried to vacate between a :56.2 intermission and 1:24 three-quarters.

However Tookadiveoffdipper stood his ground, taking a length-and-a-three-quarter lead into the lane. He held Macs Jackpot at bay, the final margin a half-length in a season's-best 1:52.2. San Domino A, the 17-10 choice was a belated third, with Jacks Legend N and Rockapelo settling for the smaller envelopes.

For sixth choice Tookadiveoffdipper, a six-year-old Always a Virgin gelding co-owned by Jane &Mark Cross and trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., it was his third win in six ’20 tries. Jordan Stratton drove the $37.80 winner. The exacta paid $92, the triple returned $433 and the superfecta paid $850.

Saturday props as well to 12-year-old, $1.4 million number Great Vintage ($8.30), who earned his 53rd win in the $22,000, fourth-race pace (1:53.1).

(Yonkers Raceway)