Locally-debuting Radar Contact, driven by George Brennan, benefitted from a wicked speed duel Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $36,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace
.
Leaving from post position No. 2 (in one notch after a defection due to sickness), the 3-4 choice watched as pole-sitting Quicksilvercandy A (Larry Stalbaum) had no intentions of letting Run On Luck (Mark MacDonald) go. That led to quickie quarters of :27, :54.1 and 1:22.3.
That also led to neither lady being around at the finish. Radar Contact, sitting a loose third, was able to get the jump on the other closers. She defeated Hello Great Mate (Brent Holland) by a length and a half in 1:52.1. Fox Valley Sage (Cat Manzi) was third, with Bet On Luck (Jim Pantaleano) and Quicksilvercandy A grabbing the remainder. Run On Luck was last among the half-dozen.
For Radar Contact, a four-year-old daughter of Dontgetinmyway trained by Noel Daley for co-owners Charles Stillings and Dean Ehrgott, she returned $3.50 for her third win in six seasonal starts. The exacta paid $60.50, with the triple returning $194.50.
Friday night's co-featured $36,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by a first-up Blacktuxwhitesocks (Jordan Stratton), getting the nod over pocket-sitting, 3-5 fave Looking Hanover (MacDonald) in 1:55.3.
After Coach Fox (Stalbaum) led through early intervals of :28.4 and :58.3, "Blacktux"--leaving from post No. 5 after an inside scratch--was moving from fifth. He challenged the lead going toward the 1:27.1 three-quarters. Coach Fox was about to wear out his welcome in and out of the final, ganged up on both sides.
"Blacktux" won the battle, whipping Looking Hanover by a short nose in 1:55.3. Orange Bigi (Manzi), Neighsay Hanover (Jeff Gregory) and Coach Fox came away with the small change.
For Blacktuxwhitesocks, a five-year-old statebred Credit Winner gelding co-owned (as American Viking Racing Stable) by trainer Trond Smedshammer and Purple Haze Stables, he returned $10.80 (third choice) for his third win in nine '12 tries. The exacta paid $24.60, the triple returned $124 and the superfecta paid $319.50.
(Yonkers Raceway)