Friday night's $43,000 Open Handicap Trot at Yonkers Raceway was won by invading Flex The Muscle, and he did so in track-record time for driver Jeff Gregory
. On the pacing side of things, it was Flirtiscape who prevailed in front-stepping fashion.
Assigned the pylons as the 3-2 favourite, Flex The Muscle elected to sit behind T Js Mr. Lavec (Jason Bartlett) as the latter set sail through fractions of :27.4, :57.2 and 1:25.2. A match race ensued for the last portion, with T Js Mr Lavec owning a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane.
He found the mile in 1:54.1, but the pocket-sitter was getting to him. Flex the Muscle was getting to the leader late, winning by three-quarters of a length in an added-distance, all-age standard of 2:01. It was another four lengths back to Political Desire (Jordan Stratton), with Armbro Casino (Shaun Vallee) grabbing the show dough.
For Flex the Muscle, a four-year-old son of Muscle Yankee co-owned by (trainer) Ray Schnittker, Jerry Silva and Arden Homestead Stable, he returned $5 for his second win in nine seasonal starts.
Flirtiscape and driver George Brennan, who were sent behind the Friday night eight-ball and double-parked to the lead, captured Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $43,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
Flirtiscape eventually made the lead after a :26.2 quarter-mile. She then found a :56.1 half and 1:24.4 three-quarters, taking a 1-3/4 lengths lead into the lane. Run On Luck, who was the tepid choice at odds of 2-1, was pocketed, with Jasperthat A tiring from first-over. The leader remained so at the 1:53 mile marker before finishing the 1-1/16 miles event in 1:59.4. Flirtiscape defeated Run On Luck by 1-1/4 lengths, with Mememe taking home the third-place cheque.
For Flirtiscape, a seven-year-old daughter of Artiscape co-owned by John Darrah, Nick Rusigno and Lawrence Keethe and trained by Lou Pena, she notched her sixth win – and fourth consecutive tally - in 16 seasonal starts.
(Yonkers Raceway)