Yonkers Raceway's Friday night $37,000 co-featured Open Handicaps -- Pace for the ladies and a Trot for all up to snuff -- were won by a down-the-road Rock N Soul (George Brennan, $7.20) and a first-up Super Manning (Brian Sears, $8.40).
In the game early from post position No.4 -- the field reduced to a half-dozen after a pair of defections (ill) -- Rock N Soul worked around longshot polester Mibestkeptsecret (Mark MacDonald). From there, equal :57-second halves made her job that much easier (:27.3 quarter, 1:25.1 three-quarters).
Rock N Soul kept a first-up Rock N Load (Dan Dube) at bay, while 9-10 favourite Royal Cee Cee N (Sears) received her get-involved memo too late.
Rock N Soul took a length and a half lead into the lane, then held off a from-last public choice by three-quarters of a length. Campanile (Brandon Simpson), Hulas Z Tam (Pat Lachance) and Rock N Load came away with the minor moolah. Mibestkeptsecret was outrun.
For second choice Rock N Soul, a six-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover co-owned by trainer Ron Burke (as Burke Racing), Frank Baladachino and Weaver Bruscemi, it was her eighth win in 23 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $15.80, with the triple returning $94.50.
The evening's featured trot saw three-year-old Crazy About Pat (Eric Goodell), last seen winning the final of the New York Sire Stakes at Yonkers, try his elders.
Making the lead from Somebody AS (Jason Bartlett) after a :27.4 opening quarter, 'Pat' found a :57.4 intermission. Super Manning -- away fifth from post No. 3 -- then began his road show. He went up and over the leader soon after a 1:26.4 three-quarters, widening to a length turning for home.
A second-over Sand Wyndham (Jordan Stratton) couldn't match strides with Super Manning, while a third-up Likeabatoutahell (Brennan) angled in with a crisp finish. However, Super Manning, unlike his namesake this season, came home a winner. The margin over Likeabatoutahell was a half-length in 1:56, with Can I Say (Dube) and Lorenzo Dream (Brent Holland) settling for the remainder.
For tepid favourite Super Manning, a five-year-old statebred Diamond Goal gelding trained by Kevin Carr for owner-breeder Joe Pennacchio, he's now five-for-22 this season. The exacta paid $41.80, the triple returned $187 and the superfecta paid $1,573.50.
Saturday features the fifth annual Fall Harvest Festival, a free, family-fun event on the track apron from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It showcases the thriving relationship between horse racing and agriculture all across New York State.
The Fall Harvest Festival includes pony rides, face painting, pumpkin patch and musical entertainment, along with New York wine and beer product sampling.
A favourite among the Fall Harvest Festival highlights is the Legislators' Challenge, in which elected officials from across the state compete in four non-wagering harness races (with occasional help from professional harness drivers). Post time for the first of three Legislators non-bettors is 5:30 p.m.
Another highlight of the Fall Harvest Festival is a Racing Under Saddle exhibition, with seven talented women competing in a mile and and a sixteenth event between the first and second races on the wagering card.
(Yonkers Raceway)