On the Tab won Saturday night's 56th Yonkers Trot, first jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown

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Dave Miller, with his first Trot victory, did the honours for trainer Jimmy Takter, who won this race for a second consecutive season.

Yonkers Raceway's premier trotting event, worth $573,770, saw pole-sitting Senor Glide (Cat Manzi) led the octet through a :29.2 opening quarter-mile.
Shaq Is Back (Steve Smith) tried the mix it up early, but jumped it off in the first turn.

That left Carnegie (Stephane Bouchard) to patrol the pocket, with Hard Livin (Ron Pierce)--like Senor Glide an elim winner a week ago--away third.

On The Tab, leaving from post position No. 3 as the third member of the Takter triumvirate, moved from fourth. Senor Glide stole a 60-second intermission before On The Tab was able to turn it up. Take My Picture (Jeff Gregory) was well-placed second-over, with Carnegie continuing in the two-hole.

Senor Glide found a 1:29.2 three-quarters, owning a half-length lead into the lane.

On The Tab was relentless, going by his barn buddy and also holding off the rival in his rear-view mirror. He defeated Take My Picture by a half-length in 1:58.4, by Senor Gide third, Hard Livin fourth and Carnegie fifth. Waldorf Hall (Jordan Stratton), Big Stick Lindy (Ray Schnittker) and the miscuing Shag Is Back rounded out the order

"I was very impressed with him last week [second to Hard Livin]," Miller said. "They weren't gong much and he came home well.

"Tonight, it was the same thing. No speed up front, and he did it first-up. In the lane, I saw Cat [Manzi] asking his colt, and I thought I had him beat. I was a bit concerned with the other one [Take My Picture], but my horse hung in there. It's a great race to win."

"I'm obviously very happy to win this race," Takter said. "It's one we always point to, because I understand the history of it. I used to have nothing but bad luck in it, but hopefully that's turned around.

"[On the Tab] was the one that Marcus [Johansson, Takter's son-in-law] really liked and wanted to drive here [before his accident at the Meadowlands].

"He wasn't an expensive horse [$30,000], but he always showed me something," Takter said. "I appreciated winning [the 2009 Trot] with Judge Joe, but he was a very talented horse when he came to me [from the Ackermans]. It's special to win with one you've developed, and I look forward to trying to win it again."

For On The Tab, a three-year-son of Cantab Hall, co-owned by Takter's wfie, Chistina of East Windsor, New Jersey, John Fielding of Toronto, ON, Louie Camara of Puslinch, ON and Falkbolagen Ab of Malmo, Sweden, he (and his posse) returned $2.20 for his first win (with six seconds) in eight seasonal starts. The exacta (Take My Picture a parimutuel second) paid $8.90. There was no triple wagering.

Spicy Wings Wins Hudson Filly Trot

Spicy Wings rolled from pocket to passing lane to paydirt Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $299,050 final of the Hudson Filly Trot and leading a sweep of the medal stand for the three-horse, odds-on coupled entry.

With Cat Manzi driving for trainer Jeff Webster, Spicy Wings stalked Costa Rica (Ron Pierce) to the lane, then easily went by. She won by a couple of lengths in a tepid 2:00.1.

Costa Rica, outdrawing her seven rivals, stuffed Spicy Wings--leaving from post position No. 3--into that early seat. Costa Rica put up intervals of :28.2, 1:00.2 and 1:30.1 (soft 1:01.4 middle half). Secret Credit (Jeff Gregory), one of three misbehavers in the race, recovered to challenge first-up.

Costa Rica dispatched that longshot, taking a length-and-quarter lead into the lane. However, the millionairess was about to give up the ghost. Spicy Wings zipped past, as did entrymates Munis Blue Chip (Ray Schnittker) and Religulous (Steve Smith). Costa Rica faded to fourth, with Show Your Lindys (Frode Fladen) earning the final pay envelope.

Secret Credit and the other bad actors--Bramelea Hanover (Dave Miller) and Unefoisdansmavie (Stephane Bouchard) completed the order.

For Spicy Wings, a sophmore daughter of Andover Hall trained by Jeff Webster for co-owners Let It Ride and Mentally Stables of of Delray Beach, Florida and Jerry Silva of Long Beach, New York, she (and her running mates) returned $3.70 for her fourth win in seven seasonal starts. Silva also co-owns "Munis," and wholly owns Religulous.

The exacta (Costa Rica for pari-mutuel second) paid $9.60, with the triple (Show Your Lindys pari-mutuel third) retuning $69.50.

"I knew a good bit about her before last week's elimination race [winning with a :27.4 final quarter]," Manzi said. "She showed a lot then, and tonight, I knew if I could get carried to the lane, she'd be tough.

"I don't think the other filly [Costa Rica] is as good as she's been, but don't take anything away from mine."

(With files from Yonkers Raceway)