Odds-on Western Silk (George Brennan) rallied from second-over Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured, $52,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace
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Assigned outside of her seven rivals, the razor-sharp Western Silk was beating just one of them early. Meanwhile, Breakheart Pass (Jim Pantaleano) fronted the fray through early intervals of :27.1 of :56.1. Hulas Z Tam (Pat Lachance) was pocketed, with Ramona Disomma (Eric Goodell) first-up.
However, with "Ramona" pacing in place by the 1:24.2 three-quarters, Western Silk swing wide and into action. She swooped by the leader right before the 1:53.2 mile marker, then kept her two remaining rivals at bay. Western Silk edged away by a half-length, getting the mile-and-one-sixteenth in 2:00.1.
Fox Valley Sage schnozzed second over Hulas Z Tam, with Breakheart Pass and Panagler (Jason Bartlett) completing the cashers.
For Western Silk, a millionairess four-year-old daughter of Western Terror co-owned by trainer Casie Coleman and Tom Hill, she returned $2.90 for her fourth win (third consecutive) in a dozen seasonal starts. The exacta paid $13.80, with the triple returning $33.20.
Friday night's co-featured, $52,000 Open Handicap Trot saw the formful Second Hand News (Brent Holland) just last on the lead in his marquee trot debut.
Leaving from post No. 5, he stepped around KLM Express (Jim Marshall III) before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile. Calchips Brute (Brennan), ordered to the eight-hole as the 8-5 choice, dropped in third. After a :57.3 half, Political Desire (Jason Bartlett) moved from fourth, pinning in the people's preference.
Second Hand News found a 1:27 three-quarters, taking a length lead into the lane. Calchips Brute was eventually able to slide out before the 1:56 mile-post, but had too much ground to make up. Second Hand News and a pylon-diving KLM Express would decide the affair, with "Second" first by a nose in added-distance 2:03.1. Calchips Brute settled for third, beaten a length-and-a-half.
Political Desire and Summertime Yankee (Dan Dube) grabbed the minor moolah.
For Second Hand News, a nine-year-old Pathway To Glory gelding trained by Jack Franklin for co-owners Gary Evans and Foulk Stables, he returned $5.70 (second choice) for his eighth win (fourth in succession) in 26 '11 tries. The exacta paid $28.40, the triple returned $79.50and the superfecta paid $522.
Saturday night, the Raceway hosts the $400,000 Fall Harvest Series (Races 2 through 9), featuring eight $50,000 events for New York-bred two- and three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. Prior to the 13-race program, Yonkers stages its first-ever Racing Under Saddle exhibition, scheduled for 6 p.m. Seven accomplished horsewomen will compete in this unique, 9/16-mile event, starting at the sixteenth-pole, passing the finish line, then going one lap around the oval.
(Yonkers Raceway)