Impressive Earl (Stephane Bouchard) defended his Open Handicap Trot title, getting a perfect second-over trip and Yonkers Raceway's line just in time in Friday night's $32,000 co-feature
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Leaving from post position No. 5, he sat quietly as Kashas Kid (Jason Bartlett) made the lead in his local debut. The Canadian interloper put up intervals of :28.4 and :58.4 before tepid 2-1 choice Ripped (Greg Grismore) entered the fray.
"Kasha" and Ripped had a staring contest at the 1:27.4 three-quarters, carrying their grudge to the final turn.
Impressive Earl was loving life from second-up before going wide. "Earl" disposed of the battling leaders, but Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory) was moving quickly.
Fortunately for "Earl," not quick enough. Impressive Earl lasted in 1:57.3, a tick slower than last week but good enough here. Ripped, American Lane (Cat Manzi) and Bet To Win (Brent Holland) rounded out the payees.
For Impressive Earl, a seven-year-old Valley Victor gelding owned by Lightning Lane Stable and trained by Lou Pena, he returned $14.40 (fourth choice) for his third win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $51, with the triple returning $204.50.
The weekly $32,000 distaff derby saw Little Mermaid N (Jim Pantaleano) go from pocket to paydirt.
Assigned post position No. 2 against six foes, "Mermaid"--in her first start at the adult table--left well. She stepped around Parlay Hanover (Eric Abbatiello) before stringing out 7-5 favourite Lady Mach (Jordan Stratton).
Lady Mach eventually made the lead before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile and rated a :57.2 intermission. Call Me Yours (Bouchard), last week's victress, then made a second move toward the lead. She prompted a 1:25.4 three-quarters, but Lady Mach maintained a length-and-a-quarter lead turning for home.
Lady Mach, though, was about to be enveloped on both sides. Little Mermaid N ducked inside, while Symphony In Motion (Gregory) and Twin Oaks Tess (Bartlett) moved from deep. However, the short way proved the best way, with "Mermaid" beating Symphony In Motion by three-quarters of a length in a season's-best 1:55.2.
"Tess," Call Me Yours and Lady Mach completed the cashers.
For Little Mermaid N, a six-year-old Road Machine Down Under miss trained by Ettore Annunziata for owner Michael Spaccarelli, she returned $20.60 (sixth choice) for her second win in six seasonal starts. The exacta paid $107.50, with the triple returning $658.
Perhaps it was only appropriate that with a winter storm on its way, Yonkers honoured National Weather Person's Day.
Several area television meteorologists were on hand for the card, finding out it's a completely different ballgame trying to predict the races.
After the weather folks picked some winners, they also meet them, with several making post-race presentations.
(Yonkers Raceway)