‘Down-the-roaders’ Im Some Graduate (George Brennan, $6) and Elysium Lindy (Dan Dube, $27.40) proved to be the best on Saturday night (March 7), as they each won their respective $44,000 Open Handicaps at Yonkers Raceway.
Im Some Graduate, who was assigned Post 5, had few issues in maintaining his current form. He worked around the pole-sitting Imarocknrollegend N (who was driven by Joe Bongiorno), then ‘finished what he started’ (:27.1; :57, 1:24.2; 1:52.2) after a weak, first-over attempt by Tremendous Play (Jason Bartlett). ‘Legend” chased in vain, but was beaten by a couple of lengths. Soho Lennon A (Jim Marohn Jr.) finished a non-threatening third. Luciano N (Austin Siegelman) and Micky Gee N (Jordan Stratton) rounded out the payees.
The victory was For Im Some Graduate’s his fourth win in five seasonal starts. The seven-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding is co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Larry Karr.
The exacta (two wagering favourites) paid $18 and the triactor returned $68.
Elysium Lindy, who was the public’s fifth wagering choice, recorded a gate-to-wire victory in the open handicap trot. After having started from Post 1, Elysium Lindy cut all the fractions (:27.1, :56.4, 1:25.1) and posted a one-length victory in 1:55.
The cone-skimming Mostinterestingman (Siegelman) finished second and Stormy Kromer (Bongiorno) finished third. The even-money choice, Meladys Monet (Brennan), finished fourth and Arabellas Cadet (Stratton) finished fifth.
Elysium Lindy is a seven-year-old Cantab Hall gelding that is owned by the Panic Stable and is trained by Andrew Harris. The victory was Elysium Lindy’s fourth win from eight starts this year.
The exacta paid $178.50 and the triactor returned $713.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)