Returning to Yonkers Raceway following a close second-place effort at the Meadowlands Racetrack, Quebec-owned Headpoles R Us (Cat Manzi) was both decisive and deserving Friday night, winning the co-featured $32,500 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace
.
Leaving from post position No. 4, "Headpoles" slipped in fourth as Giveittoemstraight (George Brennan) was a mare on a mission. After laying down intervals of :26.3 and :56.4, she saw Headpoles R Us lunge to the lead in turn No. 3, effectively ending the suspense. That one put up a 1:24.3 three-quarters, with Giveittoemstraight trying to stay close and Bet The Ranch (Jason Bartlett) stalling first-up.
Headpoles R Us then found the mile marker in 1:53.3, as invading 6-5 choice Royal Cee Cee N (Jeff Gregory)--who had moved around a tiring Bet The Ranch--trying to sustain her bid.
However, the winner was much too tough, widening to win by 3-1/4 lengths while getting the mile-and-one-sixteenth distance in 2:01. Bling (Eric Goodell) extricated herself and snapped second, with Royal Cee Cee N, Giveittoemstraight and Only The World (Dan Dube) rounding out he payees.
For Headpoles R Us, a seven-year-old daughter of Bo Knows Jate trained by Joe Anderson for owner Gerrie Tucker of Montreal, Que, she returned $4.90 (second choice) for her second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $42.60, with the triple returning $113.
Friday's night's co-featured 32-large Open Handicap Trot saw Ontario-owned Friendly Amigo (Brennan) lead at all five weight stations.
In play from post No. 4, Friendly Amigo worked around Mystical Starlight (Goodell) before a :28-second opening quarter-mile. She then put up "friendly" fractions of :58.1 and 1:27.3, taking a two-length lead into the lane. Trottin Troy (Jim Pantaleano) tried to sustain a second move from third, with Wind Surfer (Manzi) on the scene late.
However, Friendly Amigo was well in control at the 1:56.2 milepost before winning by 2-1/4 lengths in the added-distance 2:04.
Wind Surfer, Trottin Troy, Mystical Starlight and Reigning Dough (Jim Doherty) earned the minor spoils. T Js Mr Lavec (Bartlett), the 6-5 favourite, was a non-factor seventh.
For Friendly Amigo, a five-year-old homebred daughter of Amigo Hall co-owned by Bob Burgess of Campbellville and Karin Olsson Burgess of Milton, Ont., and trained by Kevin Johnson, she returned $10.80 (third choice) for her first win in a trio of '11 tries. The exacta paid $58.50, with the triple returning $213.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)