Victors Vicky went first-up and over the boys and made 'em cry Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $36,000 Open Handicap Trot
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Leaving from post position No. 5, "Vicky" watched as American Lane (Cat Manzi) and Self Professed (Yannick Gingras) took turns with the baton. The latter had the advantage through a :28.4 opening quarter-mile and :59.3 intermission.
Victors Vicky moved from fourth, with slight 2-1 choice Batalj Launcher (Jason Bartlett) along for the ride. Self Professed maintained the lead at the 1:29 three-quarters, but the mare was moving in.
"Vicky" grabbed the lead in mid-stretch, then kept Batalj Launcher at arm's length, winning by a half-length in 1:58.1. Self Professed, Winnin Image (Greg Griismore) and Bet To Win (Dan Dube) completed the cashers.
For Victors Vicky, a six-year-old daughter of Valley Victor trained by Richard Johnson for Fabulous Farms, she returned $7.90 (third choice) for her sixth win in 20 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $33, with the triple returning $125.50.
Friday night's co-featured Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace saw a wild-scramble finish, with inside assignee Chris Cross (Manzi) needing every bit of a two-hole trip to hold a pair of locked-in lasses.
Fleur De Lil A (Gingras), last week's 20-1 upsetter, made this week's lead from her outside seven-hole (in one notch after a defection).
She then dealt with the long, unwanted advances of Monochromatic (Jim Pantaleano) through intervals of :28.1, :56.3 and 1:26.
"Lil" had a short lead entering the lane, but the action was to her left. Chris Cross ducked inside, getting a jump on those in her back to prevail in 1:56.1.
Lady Sometimes (Stratton)--the 30-1 rank outsider who was buried last on the cones--negotiated traffic but was beaten a head. Mach You And Me (Bartlett), also along the pylons, closed deep in the passing lane. However she, too, ran out of racetrack, losing the place photo. Perfectionist (Dube) and KG Delight (Geroge Brennan) earned the minor moolah.
For Chris Cross, a four-year-old Admirals Galley miss trained by Rob Harmon for owner Thomas Dawson, she returned $19.60 (fifth choice) for her fifth win in 27 '09 tries. The healthy exotics included a $303.50 exacta and $1,248 triple.
(Yonkers Raceway)