Friday night's co-featured $33,000 Open Handicap Trot at Yonkers Raceway saw 9-10 choice Son Of Nordic, with Eric Goodell aboard, complete the three-peat
.
Assigned outside of his seven rivals, Son Of Nordic floated from the gate and found a seat sixth. Meanwhile, Ringside Lauryn (Brennan) controlled the race, passing weigh stations of :28.2 and :58.2. Longshot Celebrity Bluechip (Bartlett) then came for a visit, blowing by the leader right at the 1:27 three-quarters and opening up three lengths turning for home.
Son Of Nordic, second-over behind that one, had to chase. He did, getting to that one late, winning by a half-length in 1:56.1. Third went to H And Ms Hit (Stratton), with Definitely Mamie (Jeff Gregory) and "Lauryn" grabbing the leftovers. Fools Revenue (Jim Pantaleano), the 17-10 fave, jumped it off early.
Son Of Nordic, a seven-year-old Keystone Nordic gelding trained by Doug Noland for Lrl Racing, returned $8.10 (third choice) for his third win in four '12 tries. The exacta paid $91, the triple returned $393 and the superfecta paid $2,896.
Breakheart Pass, driven by Jason Bartlett, needed every bit a perfect pocket trip Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $33,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace.
One of three leavers--she from post position No. 4--Breakheart Pass was stuffed into a two-hole. Invading Canadian pole-sitter Keepers Destiny (Eric Goodell), as the 2-1 choice, was intent on showing the way, doing so through early intervals of :27.3 and :57.1.
Ridge Jumper (George Brennan), moving first-up from fifth, offered less than nothing and compromising the closers. All the while, Keepers Destiny found a 1:25.2 three-quarters, taking a length-and-a-quarter lead into the lane.
It was an old-fashioned match-race through the lane, with Breakheart Pass snapping a stubborn leader by a schnoz in 1:53.2. Ramona Disomma (Jordan Stratton) outkicked Arctic Fire N (James Rattray) for third, with last week's winner, Quicksilvercandy A (Larry Stalbaum), getting this week's final pay envelope.
Breakheart Pass, an eight-year-old daughter of Western Hero co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi, returned $8.70 (third choice) for her second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $19.20, with the triple returning $116.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)