Yonkers Raceway's pair of "sloppy" Friday night $46,000 Open Handicaps -- for everyone's-welcome trotters and distaff pacers -- were won by a closing Monsignor Flan (Brent Holland, $7.90) and a first-up Krispy Apple (Jason Bartlett, $5.70).
The featured trot was shrunk to seven when eight-ball-ordered Tober was scratched-sick. It was pylon-assigned Mymomsablizzard (Matt Kakaley) who seated everyone (Upfront Billy [Mark MacDonald] made a break), save for a parked-out 9-5 choice Calchips Brute (George Brennan). It took the latter about a half-mile (:28.3, :58.3) to make the lead, right after which Lorenzos Dream (Jim Pantaleano) attacked from third.
It was 'Lorenzo' going by a stopping Calchips Brute, then trying to open up some night-time daylight with a :28.1 third quarter (1:26.4). He owned a diminishing length and a half lead into the lane, with Super Manning (Brian Sears) and Monsignor Flan -- leaving from post position No. 6 -- in hot pursuit.
Super Manning went by 'Lorenzo,' but 'Monsignor' went by Super Manning. The margin was a head in 1:56.3, with Lorenzo Dream, Fort Valley As (Dan Dube) and a recovering Up Front Billy completing the cashers.
For second choice Monsignor Flan, a six-year-old S Js Photo gelding trained by Erv Miller for owner Tanah Merah Farms, it was his fourth win in 18 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $43.40, the triple returned $128 and the superfecta paid $637.
The fairer-sex feature, reduced with a six-pack after scratch (judges) of Rock N Soul, saw even-money favourite Unred Hanover (MacDonald) do the early-honours. That one left around Campanile (Brennan), making the lead before a :27.2 opening quarter. It was a :57-second intermission before Krispy Apple -- who had floated into a four-hole from her outside (now post No. 6) assignment -- was moving again.
She instigated the issue in and out of the 1:25.4 three-quarters, taking over soon thereafter. Krispy Apple disposed of Unred Hanover, then widened to win by two and three-quarter lengths in 1:53.4. Virgin Mary (Eric Goodell) gapped the winner, but out-finished Unred Hanover for second, with Campanile and Tropical Breeze (Sears) rounding out the payees.
For second choice Krispy Apple, a five-year-old daughter of Western Ideal trained by PJ Fraley for co-owners Bamond Racing and Joseph Davino, it was her fourth in nine '13 tries (career earnings now over $915.000). The exacta paid $26.80, with the triple returning $72.
In other action, Friday night's $37,000 Preferred Handicap Trot went to Armbro Flight eligible Mystical Starlight ($13.80, Eric Goodell) in 1:56.2. The eight-year-old Credit Winner mare carved out fractions of :28.2, :58.2, and 1:26.4 before holding off the pocket-pulling favourite, Whata Winner (Jim Doherty), by a nose. The 28-time career winner is trained by Ross Croghan and owned by Glen Hobin of Stittsville, Ont.
Saturday night's program features a pair of $40,000 eliminations for the Art Rooney Pace, with the first four finishers in each qualifying for the $275,000 final Saturday, June 1.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)