The calendar's initial Open Handicap Trot at Yonkers Raceway was won by lone lass Mystical Starlight and driver Eric Goodell on Friday night
in 1:58.3.
Pricevalleyrevitup (Cat Manzi) led through fractions of :29, :59.3 and 1:28.3, getting hounded for a large part of the time by Baby Boy Grin (Larry Stalbaum). The latter made a huge recovery from a before-the-start-misbehave.
"Pricevalley" was about done in and out of the final turn, swallowed up by all the board members. Mystical Starlight--leaving from post position No. 5--rallied from second-over, winning by a length-and-a-quarter.
Shoeless White Sox (Gregory) and Wind Surfer (Gingras), last and next-to-last in the early going, wound up second and third, while Pricevalleyitup and Tasty Max (Stephane Bouchard) grabbed the small change.
For Mystical Starlight, a six-year-old daughter of Credit Winner owned by Glen Hobin of Stittsville, Ont. and trained by Jeff Webster, she returned $15.40 (fourth choice) for winning her 2011 debut. The exacta paid $126, while the exacta returned $642.
Breakheart Pass (Yannick Gingras) justified her outside assignment Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's first Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace of the season.
Floating out from behind the eight-ball, Breakheart Pass landed fifth while Symphony In Motion (Jeff Gregory) put forth early intervals :28.1 and :58.2.
Special Sweetheart (Dan Dube) was pocketed, with Twin B Tiara (Eric Goodell) first-up. Breakheart Pass tracked that move toward the 1:27.2 three-quarters, then went wide into the lane. She eased to the lead, winning by a length-and-three-quarters in 1:55.4. Up Front Cruiser (George Brennan)--the 19-10 favourite--closed from sixth off the final turn to snap second, with Symphony In Motion, Special Sweetheart and Hawks Cry Electra (Jason Bartlett) completing the cashers.
For Breakheart Pass, a now-seven-year-old daughter of Western Hero trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, she returned $8 (second choice) for a successful seasonal debut. The exacta paid $34.80, with the triple returning $177.50.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)