Yonkers Raceway's pair of Friday night $46,000 Open Handicaps -- for either-gender trotters and distaff pacers -- were won by Imperial Count (Tyler Buter, $7.50) and Handsoffmycookie (Dan Dube, $7.30).
Imperial Count, leaving from post position No. 7, watched early and Canadian visitor Hesgotlegs (Mark MacDonald) worked around Political Desire (Jason Bartlett) passing a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.
After a :56-second half, 2-1 choice Calchips Brute (George Brennan) moved from sixth, with Imperial Count right on his tail. Hesgotlegs maintained the lead in and out of a brisk 1:25.3 three-quarters, but the fun was about to end for Yonkers' friend from the north.
Calchips Brute went on by early stretch, but all he did was tow Imperial Count into the race and into the winner's circle. He edged past, prevailing by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.4. That mile was the fastest locally this season as a well a track record for an aged horse.
Third went to a third-up Monsignor Flan (Brent Holland), with Political Desire and Hesgotlegs completing the cashers. Last week's winner and this week's eight-hole beginner, Up Front Billy (Brian Sears), missed the memo for the start and broke.
For second choice Imperial Count, a five-year-old son of Angus Hall owned by Neven Botica and trained by Nifty Norman, it was his fourth win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $46, with the triple returning $155.50.
The weekly ladies' luncheon saw millionairess statebred Handsoffmycookie -- fresh off her win in last week's consolation for the Blue Chip Matchmaker -- slip out and roll by.
'Cookie,' leaving from post No. 5, was sitting a three-hole behind Keepers Destiny (Sears) and 2-1 fave Warrawee Koine (Jason Bartlett). It was Keepers Destiny throwing down fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:25, with eight-hole assignee Maries Z Tam (Brennan) living life a long way on the outside.
With Four Starz Roe (Matt Kakaley) gapping that one, Handffmycookie was able to hang a right and find room. She went by, whipped a passing lane Warrawee Koine by a length and a quarter in 1:53.4. Royal Cee Cee N (Eric Goodell) skimmed the cones for third, with Keepers Destiny and Maries Z Tam coming away with the remainder.
For second choice Handsoffmycookie, a four-year-old daughter of Art Major owned by JFE Enterprises and trained by Scott DiDomenico, it was her second (consecutive) win in seven '13 tries. The exacta paid $33.20, the triple returned $183 and the superfecta paid $525.
(Yonkers Raceway)