Open Winners Fresh From Layoffs
It’s never too late to find a new handicapping angle, so Yonkers Raceway offers up this one...find a pair that have been both out of the box for three weeks, sprinkle in a moist surface and count the cash.
That was Saturday night’s summary for Yonkers' pair of $45,000 co-featured Open Handicaps.
In the trotting division, Allerage Star (Brian Sears, $13.40) negotiated her route from the pocket, stalking -- from post position No. 5 -- Meladys Monet (Tyler Buter) through intervals of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:26.4.
‘Melady’ had his hands full with a parked-the-mile Ladys Dude (George Brennan), with the former owning a short lead entering the lane. Allerage Star ducked inside and beat the boys, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.4.
Mr. Photo Finish couldn’t separate the Meladys Monet and Ladys Dude, who ‘heated’ for second. Somebody AS (Jordan Stratton) and Red Hot Herbie (Dan Dube) came away with the remainder.
Tepid 7-2 choice Undercover Strike (Jason Bartlett) was not get involved from an assigned eight-hole and wound up sixth.
For fifth choice Allerage Star, a four-year-old daughter of Angus Hall trained by Julie Miller for co-owners Little E, Jason Settlemoir, Arthur Geiger and David Stolz, the win was her seventh win in 18 seasonal starts. The exactas paid $58.50 (Ladys Dude second) and $46.60 (Meladys Monet second), with the triples returning $332 (‘Lady’ second) and $311 (‘Melady’ second).
The week’s featured pace saw Somewhere In L A (Brennan, $27.20), from post No. 2, move first-up from third. He did so after Rock On Moe (Stratton) and 19-10 fave Mach It So (Bartlett) took turns leading (:27.1, :56.2, 1:24.1).
With Mach It So giving it up early in the lane, Somewhere in L A continued on and gutted this one out. He defeated a ground-saving McErlean (Buter) by a nose in 1:52.3.
The Real One (Pat Lachance) arrived late and missed a head, with Rock On Moe and Mach It So settling for the minors.
For sixth choice Somewhere in L A, a five-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding trained by Jimmy Takter for co-owning stables Our Horse Cents, J&T Silva, TLP Stable and Deo Volente Farms, he’s now three-for-10 this season. The exacta paid $246, with the triple returning $999.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)