Yonkers Raceway's pair of Friday night, $35,000 co-featured Open Handicaps--for distaff pacers and trotters of all philosophic persuasions--were won by a pocket-sitting Krispy Apple (Brian Sears, $3.30) and a second-over Sand Wyndham (Dan Dube, $12.40).
In what was essentially a match race from the get-go, Dont Blame Her (Joe Bongiorno) and 3-5 favourite Krispy Apple were in play from post position No. 4 and 5, respectively. Dont Blame Her made the lead, with Krispy Apple slipping in behind.
After a :28-second opening quarter-mile and :56.4 intermission, Feeling You (Jason Bartlett)--who had found en early seat--made her second move. However, she couldn't sustain that bid in and out of a 1:25 three-quarters, with Dont Blame Her taking a length and a half lead into the lane. That's when the people's preference went in and went by, widening to two and a quarter lengths at the wire in 1:53.
Stormunn (Jordan Stratton), Queen Of Royalty (Brent Holland) and last week's victress, Keepers Destiny (George Brennan), rounded out the payees.
For Krispy Apple, a four-year-old daughter of Western Ideal co-owned by Bamond Racing and Joe Davino and trained by PJ Fraley, it was her sixth win in 25 seasonal starts (career cash now close to $800,000). The exacta paid $9.70, with the triple returning $86.
The week's featured trot saw Brandos Muscle Man (Brennan), from post No. 7, lay down the law through early intervals of :28 and :58.1. Pocketed was Great Emancipator (Sears), while tepid 2-1 choice Big Sky Storm (Stratton) was first-up. That one towed Sand Wyndham--leaving from the five-hole--into the fray toward the 1:27.2 three-quarters.
It was Brandos Muscle Man with a length and a half lead turning for home, but it was Sand Wyndham with the momentum. He rolled past, winning by his own length and a half in 1:56.3. 'Brando' saved second over a from-last Tober (Bartlett), with Great Emancipator and Big Sky Storm grabbing the small change.
For fourth-choice Sand Wyndham, a seven-year-old son of Pegasus Spur owned by Yves Sarrazin and trained by Rene Allard, it was his seventh win in 31 '12 tries. The exacta paid $69.50, the triple returned $251 and the superfecta $1,022.
(Yonkers Raceway)