Yonkers Raceway began its 2010 season Friday night, with Speed Bomb (Greg Grismore, three wins on the card) and Leanback Coco (Jordan Stratton) leading the first-night frivolities
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Speed Bomb, out every step in the co-featured $32,000 Open Handicap Trot, nonetheless was the best of a barbershop quartet at the wire.
Leaving from post position No. 7 as the 6-5 choice, Speed Bomb was three-wide early as Trottin Troy (Eric Abbatiello) made the lead. "Troy" led through early fractions of :28.3 and :58.1 before Self Professed (Jason Bartlett) moved from fourth.
Trottin Troy and Self Professed dueled past a 1:27.3 three-quarters, with CR Dream Catcher (Jim Marshall III) pocketed and Speed Bomb now second-up.
Those four dueled through the lane, with Speed Bomb--despite taking the long way home--winning by a head in 1:58.2. Self Professed was second, with Trottin Troy grabbing third over "Dream Catcher." The first four finishers were separated by just a neck, with Ripped (Jeff Gregory) earning the final pay envelope.
For Speed Bomb, a seven-year-old son of Master Lavec trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, JJK Stables and Phillip Collura, he returned $4.40 for his second win as many '10 tries. The exacta paid $17, with the triple returning $55.
Friday night's co-featured $32,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace saw Leanback Coco take it to the house.
Leaving from post No. 4, "Coco" rolled through fractions of :29, :59.1, 1:27.2 and 1:55.4.
Western Graduate (Abbatiello), the 3-4 favourite, all but bottomed out of the pocket, while On The Glass (Grismore) took up the chase in her first start since last Septmeber's final of the New York Sire Stakes. Leanback Coco won by a safe couple of lengths, with On The Glass, Lady Mach (Bartlett), Hannah Isabel (Pat Lachance) and a tiring people's choice completing the cashers.
For Leanback Coco, a seven-year-old daughter of Cambest trained by Ken Andersen for owner Richard Hallahan, she paid $7.20 (second choice) for her second win in two seasonal starts. The exacta paid $68, with the triple returning $483.50.
Stratton won a pair of races opening night, as did Peter Wrenn
Yonkers' regular five-night-per-week schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) is back in effect. First post for all racing programs is 7:10 p.m. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.
(Yonkers Raceway)