A pocketed Red Hot Herbie (Dan Dube, $15.80) out-gamed odds-on Luminosity (George Brennan) down the lane Sunday afternoon, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $50,000 Open Handicaps Trot.
In play early from post position No. 2 among the 10 entrants for the mile-and-one-quarter tilt, Red Hot Herbie had the first lead. The baton was then handed to Sevruga (Andy Miller) before a 28-second opening quarter-mile.
While this was transpiring, 3-5 Luminosity -- assigned post No. 10 in the back of the bus -- was sitting fifth. He moved up to chase Crazy About Pat (Mark MacDonald) right around a :57.4 intermission. It was Sevruga’s leading in and out of a 1:27.1 three-quarters and 1:56.1 milepost, owning a length-and-a-quarter advantage into the lane.
However, his early work day was about over, getting inhaled from all sides. Red Hot Herbie took the short way home, slipping in and whipping a wide Luminosity by three-quarters of a lengths in 2:26.1. Sumatra (Jordan Stratton), Sevruga and Can Do (Brian Sears) rounded out the payees.
For third choice Red Hot Herbie, a five-year-old Here Comes Herbie gelding trained by Rene Allard and owned by Allard Racing, Albert Abdala III, Bruce Soulsby and Michael Reppucci, the win was his ninth in 25 seasonal starts (five wins in last seven tries). The exacta paid $50, triple returned $145.50 and the superfecta paid $1,487.
As for Brennan, he won one race, upping his lifetime total to 8,998.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)