Twin B Tiara (Jim Pantaleano), in the right place at the right time Friday night, won Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $32,500 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace
.
Leaving from post position No. 4, she watched a whole lot of early movement. Legerdepan (Dan Dube)--bumping up in search of a fifth consecutive victory--had the first lead before a :27-second opening quarter-mile. Right after the :57.1 half, Breakheart Pass (Jason Bartlett) made a second move to gain the upper hand.
That left tepid 5-2 choice Bling (Eric Goodell) uncovered, with Twin B Tiara second-up. Bling attacked in earnest in and out of the 1:25.2 three-quarters, with Breakheart Pass fighting that one off through the final turn.
However, those two were sitting ducks for the fresher legs. Twin B Tiara vaulted to lead nearing the 1:54.2 mile marker, getting the mile-and-one-sixteenth distance in 2:01.3.
Headpoles R Us (Cat Manzi), last week's victress and last for much of this week's early going, rallied stoutly for second, with a shuffled Delightful Diva (George Brennan) knifing through for third. Bling and Up Front Cruiser (Larry Stalbaum) completed the cashers.
For Twin B Tiara, a seven-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight co-owned by (trainer) Monico Stanislao and Robin Bruce Batcho, she returned $18.60 (seventh choice) for her first win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $95.50, with the triple returning $752.
Pantaleano completed a sweep of the Friday features, wining the $32,500 Open Handicap Trot with pocket-patrolling Trottin Troy.
In play at the outset from post No .3, he yielded to last week's winner and this week's 2-1 choice, Friendly Amigo (Brennan). That one rolled through intervals of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:26.1, with just mild pressure from Victors Vicky (Jordan Stratton).
Friendly Amigo owned a two-length lead into the lane, but the wheels became (figuratively) wobbly not long after. Tiring and bearing out by the 1:56.4 mile, he saw Trottin Troy take the short way home. 'Troy' prevailed by a length-and-a-half, with the added distance going in 2:04.2. Wind Surfer (Dube) closed for second, with Rompaway Beau (Manzi), Friendly Amigo and Tasty Max (Goodell) grabbing the small change.
For Trottin Troy, a seven-year-old Chip Chip Hooray gelding owned by Bramdeo Singh and trained by Paul Fusco, he returned $14.40 (fourth choice) for his first win in four '11 tries. The exacta paid $50.50, with the triple returning $314.
(Yonkers Raceway)