Favourite Save My Shark (Jim Pantaleano) was both active and effective Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $32,500 Filly and Mare Open Handicap
Pace.
Leaving from post position No. 5, she was in the early fray through quick fractions. Save My Shark played leapfrog on the lead with Giveittoemstaight (George Brennan) in between intervals of :26.3 and :55. She had a a first-up challenger in Twin B Tiara (Jeff Gregory) going toward the 1:24 three-quarters.
Save My Shark disposed of that one, taking a length-and-a-quarter lead into the lane. She found the mile in 1:52.3, getting the mile-and-one-sixteenth a neck to the good in two minutes flat. Up Front Kelli Jo (Cat Manzi) rolled into second, with Twin B Tiara, Monochromatic (Jason Bartlett) and Headpoles R Us (Ryan Anderson) completing the cashers.
For Save My Shark, a five-year-old daughter of Four Starzzz Shark trained by Tony Alagna for co-owners Frank Dettore Horse Racing, Jim Arledge and Joe Sbrocco, she returned $4.60 for her third win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $32.60, the triple returned $108.50 and the superfecta paid $811.
Friday night's $32,500 Open Handicap Trot found Neighsay Hanover (Gregory) two-moving to the lead, then fighting off a late charge by 4-5 choice In Focus (Dan Dube) in a track-record effort.
Leaving from post No. 3, 'Neighsay' and Shoeless White Sox contested the :27.3 openiing quarter-mile. The former re-took, then rated a :57.1 half before lone lass Friendly Amigo (Bartlett) made her second move. Neighsay Hanover continued through a 1:26.4 three-quarters, with a couple of lengths turning for home. 'Neighsay' hit the mile marker in 1:55.2, then fended off a furious foray by In Focus in a new added-distance standard of 2:02.2.
In Focus missed a half-length, with Shoeless White Sox, New Hampshire Boy (Brennan) and Salutation Hanover (Manzi) rounding out the payees.
For Neighsay Hanover, a five-year-old son of Muscles Yankee co-owned by (trainer) Ray Schnittker, Charles Iannazzo, Ted Gewertz and Leif Alber, he returned $5.40 (second choice) for his first win in three '11 tries. The exacta paid $14.20, the triple returned $134 and the superfecta paid $422.50.
Friday's card also included seven $12,500 divisions in the opening round of the (flat-mile) Petticoat Pacing Series for three and four-year old fillies and mares.
The winners were:
(Yonkers Raceway)