A week ago, we wrote...George Brennan won half of Yonkers Raceway’s program Saturday night, his happy half-dozen including the tandem of $40,000 Open Handicaps. Now, we write...Jason Bartlett won half of Yonkers Raceway’s program Saturday night, his happy half-dozen including the tandem of $40,000 Open Handicaps.
Bartlett and Ideal Cowboy ($36.20) upset in the week’s featured pace (1:50.4), while Bartlett and 6-5 favourite Meladys Monet ($4.40) won the week’s marquee trot (1:55.1) from an impossible locale.
Ideal Cowboy, leaving from a seat from post position No. 7, went up and over Lucan Hanover (Brian Sears) after that one’s two-move, early intervals of :27.1 and :55.4. Ideal Cowboy moved from third, grabbing the lead at a 1:23 three-quarters.
Meanwhile, Take It Back Terry (George Brennan), at just over even-money, was right behind, but couldn’t match strides with the “Cowboy” as that one opened three and a quarter lengths into the lane. “Terry” closed the final margin late, but missed by a half-length.
Lucan Hanover, Soho Jackman A (Tyler Buter) and Big N Bad (Eric Carlson) came away with the remainder.
For sixth choice Ideal Cowboy, a four-year-old American Ideal gelding co-owned by Bamond Racing and J&T Silva Stables, the win was his seventh in 21 seasonal tries. The exacta paid $66, with the triple returning $601.
Now, to Meladys Monet, remanded to an eight-hole despite three weeks off. He tried to leave, but several others inside of him were reading from the same script.
He was forced to go to the back of the bus as DWs NY Yank (Brennan) gave his backers some brief hope (:27.3, :56.2, 1:25.4). Crazy About Pat (Buter), sitting an antsy pocket, pulled early, with Fort Valley AS (Carlson) slipping out behind that one.
As for “Melady,” he was last along the cones, then slipped out to race third-over, with nothing moving forward in front of him.
Last, six and three-quarter lengths away turning for home, he had no right winning this race...except he didn’t get the memo. Meladys Monet powered by on the far outside, whipping “Fort Valley” by a neck with an individual :27.4 final quarter. Third went to “DW,” with “Pat” and Can Do (Jordan Stratton) settling for the small change.
For Meladys Monet, a six-year-old Revenue S gelding trained by Kevin McDermott for owner Melady Enterprises, the win was his 12th in 25 ’15 tries. The exacta paid $21.20, with the triple returning $94.
(Yonkers Raceway)