"Hobbles?! I don't need no stinkin' hobbles!"
If Master Pine could talk, that's what we surmise he would have said Friday night after easily winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $32,000 Open Handicap Trot
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The win maintained Master Pine's perfect 2010 resume--all since going au naturale--and gave Jason Bartlett a sweep of the evening's co-features.
Sent right to the lead from post position No. 3, the 8-5 favourite had nary an anxious moment. He led at every pylon, eventually whipping a closing Victors Vicky (Jordan Stratton) by two lengths in 1:58.2. Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory) was third.
For Master Pine, a seven-year-old Master Lavec gelding trained by Julie Miller for co-owners Mark Moger and Albert Delia Jr., he returned $5.20 for his fourth win in as many '10 tries. The exacta paid $59, with the triple returning $216.50
Friday night's co-featured Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace saw odd-on On The Glass go from first-up to first home.
Leaving from the post No. 5, On The Glass used a :27.2 third quarter to dispense with the suspense, going up and over Little Mermaid N (Jim Pantaleano). She went on to whip Perfectionist (Stephane Bouchard) by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:54. Little Mermaid N was third.
For On the Glass, a four-year-old statebred daughter of Art Major trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Joe Di Scala and Cynthia Lynn Massari, she returned $3.10 for her fourth win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $17.60, with the triple returning $50.
Friday night also included the third and final preliminary round of the Hopeful Pacing Series for three-year-old fillies (note that last week's second round was snowed out).
In a pair of $10,000 events, the first and faster winner was Dragon Princess (Cat Manzi, $3.30) in 1:57. The daughter of Dragon Again, trained by Darren Cassar for owner Barry Charles, went by the early, loose leader O Lucky Me (Gregory) before winning by a couple of lengths. Briefly (Steve Smith) was second.
The second grouping was won by Angelino (Stratton, $12), who picked off Brightest Star (Brandon Simpson) late in a life-best 1:58.4. The Western Hanover lass is co-owned by (trainer) Dylan Davis and Warren Racing.
The finals for both genders of the Hopeful are scheduled for next Friday (fillies, $46,900) and Saturday (colts/geldings, $49,700) nights, respectively.
(Yonkers Raceway)