A repeating Luminosity (George Brennan, $7.40) and Big N Bad (Eric Carlson, $26.20) shared the Saturday night glory, winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $42,000 Open Handicaps.
Luminosity, from outside post position No. 7 in the weekly marquee trot, plodded into a pocket behind Dewycolorintheline (Jordan Stratton). That one threw down early intervals of :27.3 and :56.4 before Stan The Man (Jason Bartlett) moved from fourth.
“Stan” didn’t do much for the cause, including 3-4 fave Obrigado (Mark MacDonald), who was operating from third-over. Meanwhile, “Dewy” found a 1:25.3 three-quarters, taking a length and a ahalf lead into the lane. However, Luminosity edged out and by, winning by a length and a quarter in 1:54.2.
Obrigado and Il Mago (Dan Dube), both compromised by a stagnant tow, rallied for second and third, respectively. Dewycolorintheline and Tweet Me (Tyler Buter) rounded out the payees.
For second Luminosity, a five-year-old Cash Hal gelding co-owned by trainer Ron Burke (as Burke Racing) and Weaver Bruscemi, it was his sixth win in 15 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $18.60, with the triple returning $75.50.
The week’s featured pace had Big N Bad, from post No, 3, have no such issues hitchin’ a ride. He wound up second-up behind 7-5 choice Fool Me Once (Brennan) as that one put the heat upon Sapphire City (MacDonald).
Sapphire City, at a baker’s-dozen-to-one, had led through sub-sections of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:24.2. He dispatched former New York Sire Stakes champ Fool Me Once and owned a length and a half lead in and out of the final turn.
Unfortunately for Sapphire City and his legions, unwanted company was coming in the form of a pocketed The Real One (Pat Lachance) and Big N Bad. The latter whipped the former by a half-length in 1:52.4, with P H Supercam (Bartlett), Sapphire City and Casimir Jitterbug (Buter) settling for the minor moolah.
The five cheque-getters were separated by one and three-quarter lengths at the wire.
For fifth choice Big N Bad, a five-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding owned by Vincent Laurenzo and trained by Jennifer Sabot, it was his fifth win in 11 ’15 tries. The exacta paid $76.50, the triple returned $400 and the superfecta paid $3,182.
A friendly reminder from Yonkers Raceway that Monday night’s (May 18) Pick 5 wager begins with a carryover of $4,501.50 and offers a $10,000 guaranteed pool (program pages available at yonkersraceway.com).
The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager comprising races seven through 11 during every racing program. It has no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners (as was the case Saturday), the entire pool (minus takeout) moves to the next program.
(Yonkers Raceway)