Long Live Rock and Money Maven won Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $40,000 Open Handicaps, both from post position five, on its Saturday, March 10 program.
Long Live Rock, from assigned post-position five, worked out a second-over trip behind an out-the-mile Chumlee A.
Chumlee A, ordered outside his seven rivals, steadily advanced toward 9-5 choice Texas Terror N as that one led through intervals of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:25.1. Texas Terror N owned a diminishing lead in and out of the final turn, with Long Live Rock closing.
Long Live Rock bested Texas Terror N in the stretch, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.4, matching a season’s-best effort. A seam-slipping Soho Lennon A just missed second, with Chumlee A and Killer Martini rounding out the payees.
For second choice Long Live Rock, a nine-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding owned and trained by Rene Allard, it was his second win in four seasonal starts. Driven by Daniel Dube, he paid $6.20 to win.
Any number of Saturday’s high-end pacing participants were prepping for the onset of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series, which begins next Saturday, March 17.
The week’s marquee trot saw Money Maven, from post five, easily go up and over early leader (:28.4, :58) In Secret. In Secret, as the 2-1 choice, had moved to the lead around lone lass NF Happenstance.
Money Maven, who made the lead right at the 1:27 three-quarters, opened a length-and-a-quarter in the lane. He widened to three lengths at the wire to win in a season’s-best 1:56.1. Always a Good Time and Mostinerestingman chased home the winner, while a shuffled NF Happenstance and Zooming settled for the minors. In Secret faded to sixth.
For sixth choice Money Maven, a nine-year-old Revenue S gelding owned by Kapildeo Singh and trained by Julie Miller, it was second win in six ’18 tries. Driven by Jordan Stratton, he paid $28.80 to win.
Sunday matinees resume March 18th, with first post TBA.