Western Graduate (George Brennan) made it four victories in a row Friday night, easily winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $38,000 Filly and Mare Open
Handicap Pace.
Not even the eight-hole could slow her down. Western Graduate worked around Shanghai Lil (Tyler Buter), grabbing the lead after a :28.4 opening quarter-mile. There was minimal rest for the even-money favourite, who threw down pair a :28.1 quarters (:57 and 1:25.1) while widening her advantage.
Western Graduate owned a three-length lead into the lane, then used a :28.2 final quadrant to finish it off. She defeated Jasperthat A (Ryan Anderson) by four lengths in 1:53.3, with Best Boss (Pat Lachance), The Assassinator (Jason Bartlett) and Shanghai Lil completing the cashers.
For Western Graduate, a six-year-old Western Hanover miss trained by Lou Pena for KDM Stables, she returned $4.20 for her 11th win in 35 seasonal starts (sixth in last seven tries). The exacta paid $11.40 (two wagering choices), with the triple returning $165. Western Graduate's 1:51.3 effort at Yonkers in late July is the local, all-age distaff record.
Friday night's $38,000 Open 'Cap Trot was a mad-scramble event won by 20-1 rank outsider Reigning Dough (Jim Doherty) in a season's-best 1:57.
Away slowly from post position No. 3, he watched from fifth as pole-sitting Mr Invincible (Jordan Stratton) played leapfrog on the lead with KLM Express (Jim Marshall III). After early intervals of :28 and :57.3, Benns Sure Thing (Buter) took out of fourth.
Reigning Dough tracked that move toward the 1:27.1 three-quarters as the octet closed ranks--all within three lengths. Mr Invincible was about to wear out his welcome off the final turn as Reigning Dough went wide and 2-1 fave Hurrikanebiggeorge (Dan Dube) moved even wider.
The former found the line a nose before the latter, with KLM Express, T Js Mr Lavec (Bartlett) and a tough-trip Pricevalleyrevitup (Cat Manzi) rounded out the payees. The first five finishers were separated by just two lengths.
For Reigning Dough, a five-year-old CR Excalibur gelding trained by Doherty for En Mar Stable, he returned $42.80 for his second win in 28 '10 tries. The exacta paid $144.50, with the triple returning $593.
(Yonkers Raceway)