Yonkers Raceway's pair of Friday night $33,000 Open Handicaps -- a Pace for the ladies and a Trot for all who sent in their proofs of purchase -- were won by odds-on favourite Ramalama (Matt Kakaley, $2.90) and a repeating DWs NY Yank (George Brennan, $4.40).
Starting from post position No. 4 -- the best she could have hoped for the way the race was laid out -- Ramalama settled third as Lorrie Please (Eric Carlson) made an immediate lead around pole-sitting Simple Saver N (Tyler Buter). After cheap fractions of :29.3 and :59.4, Ramalama was out and advancing.
The people's choice engaged 'Lorrie' in and out of a 1:28 three-quarters and they were throwing it down through the lane. The fave had to work for it, but she did prevail, edging past Lorrie Please by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.3. Simple Saver N, Magic Starlight N (Brennan) -- who gapped the winner down the backside -- and Ideal In Vegas (Jordan Stratton) rounded out the payees.
For Ramalama, a five-year-old statebred daughter of Bettors Delight trained by David Duspiva for co-owners Blue Chip Bloodstock, it was her first win (to go along with three seconds) in five seasonal starts. The exacta paid $13.80, with the triple returning $116.
The week's marquee Trot -- reduced to seven when inside number Likeabatoutahell was ill -- was a two-speed number involving the two outside assignees. It was DWs NY Yank -- from post No. 7 -- taking over from Zooming (Buter) just after a :28.1 opening quarter-mile. A soft :59-second intermission, then pressure from a first-up Bob N Tony (Ron Pierce).
The leader remained so going past a 1:28.2 three-quarters, taking a three-quarter length lead out of the final turn. Zooming ducked inside, but missed, beaten a head in 1:57. Backstreet Hanover (Carlson) was a closing third, with Lorenzo Dream (Kakaley) and Bob N Tony settling for the remainder
For 'D W,' a five-year-old Dilbert Hanover gelding co-owned by trainer Ron Burke (as Burke Racing), Weaver Bruscemi and Howard Taylor, it was his third win in as many '14 tries The exacta paid $11, the triple returned $44.60 and the superfecta (four wagering favourites in order) paid $140.
A special Friday salute to noted bon vivant -- and occasional Saturday TV co-host -- Gary Machiz, whose Where To Hanover (Stratton, $5.10) delivered the goods in the $15,000 fifth race trot. Where To Hanover negotiated the mile-and-one-sixteenth in 2:05.3, then immediately demanded a raise from his owner.
(Yonkers Raceway)