Smellthecolornine One Of Six For Bartlett

Invading Smellthecolornine worked out a second-over Saturday night trip, winning Yonkers Raceway's $32,000 Open Handicap Pace and giving driver Jason Bartlett one of his six wins on the card

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Leaving from post position No. 5, Smellthecolornine didn't get a sniff early, as Dave Aint Here (Jim Pantaleano) yielded the floor to an early bi from Legal Litigator (Cat Manzi).

Legal Litigator made the lead after a :27.2 opening quarter-mile, then found a :55.3 intermission.

Southwind Tabor (Greg Merton), looped early by Dave Aint Here, then made his second move, chasing the leader at the 1:24 three-quarters.

Legal Litigator owned and length-and-a-quarter lead turning for home, but company was coming. "Colornine" was wide and fast, getting to the leader late and winning by a length in 1:53. The win was Bartlett's fourth of five in a row. He wound up with six victories on the dozen-race card, while Pat Lachance won thrice.

Dontgetbyme (Jordan Stratton) closed well to snap second, ending a six-race winning streak (five-for-five here), with Legal Litigator saving the bottom of the ticket.

Southwind Tabor and tepid 3-1 choice Corky Baran (Brent Holland) completed the cashers, while "Dave"--trying for a fourth consecutive Saturday feature victory--tired in the pocket and finished sixth.

For Smellthecolornine, a four-year-old Cole Muffler gelding owned by Jeffrey Bamond and trained by Mark Kesmodel, he returned $11 (fourth choice) for his second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $118, the triple returned $621 and the superfecta paid $3,328.

The Hopeful Series, colt and gelding portion, began Saturday night with five $10,000 events for three-year-olds.

Crunch Time, a Bettors Delight gelding, turned in the fastest, first-round mile, a life-best 1:57.2.

Stephane Bouchard put him in play early, fighting off a serious challenger before prevailing by three lengths. The winner ($6.20) was trained by Ed Hart for co-owners Ralph Mailman and Springhill Trading.

Saturday night's other Hopeful winners were:

• Pan Grad (by The Panderosa); co-owners Michael Casalino Jr. & (trainer) Dylan Davis/driver Bartlett; 1:57.3/$4.10;
• No Monkeys Allowed, g (by Rocknroll Hanover); owner Richard Young/trainer Chris Ryder/driver Bartlett; (first life win) 1:57.4/$5.40;
• Unicorn Hanover, g (by Four Starzzz Shark); owner Ed Mullinax/trainer Mark Ford/driver Bartlett; 1:57.4/$4.70
• Bolder, g (by Cheyenne Rei); co-owners (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino, Lawrence Karr/driver Bartlett;1:58.4/$6.80

(With files from Yonkers Raceway)