Wuthering Hanover (Jordan Stratton), as the 14-1 rank outsider, was up in time Friday night to win Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $43,000 Open
Handicap Trot.
Leaving from post position No. 5, "Wuthering" watched as 9-5 choice Grain Of Truth (Jeff Gregory) made the lead after being sent three-wide early. That one led through intervals of :28 and :58.1 before Hurrikanebiggeorge (Dan Dube) moved from fourth.
"Biggeorge" offered only mild pressure, with Cold Winner (Yannick Gingras) pocketed and Wuthering Hanover second-up. At the 1:27.1
three-quarters mark, Grain Of Truth remained the leader, taking a length-and-a-quarter advantage into the lane.
He found a 1:56.4 mile, but weakened late. Wuthering Hanover was up by a head over the fave, getting the mile-and-one-sixteenth in 2:04. KLM Express (Jim Marshall III), Cold Winner and Stand Guard (George Brennan) completed the cashers.
For Wuthering Hanover, a five-year-old Andover Hall gelding co-owned by Randy Bendis, Reed Broadway, Diane Novosel and James Walton, and trained by Albert Meyer, he returned $30.60 for his third win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $91.50, with the triple returning $744.
Friday night's co-featured $43,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace saw 8-5 choice Monochromatic (Jim Pantaleano) take it the distance.
Leaving from an assigned five-hole, she worked around Up Front Kelli Jo (Dube), then threw down fractions of :27.2, :55.4, 1:24.3, 1:52.4 and an added-distance 1:59.3. Delightful Diva (Brennan) left for a seat, then gave futile chase, beaten two-and-a-half lengths. "Kelli Jo," Mememe (Eric Goodell) and Jasperthat A (Cat Manzi) rounded out the payees.
For Monochromatic, a six-year-old daughter of Dream Away trained by Dylan Davis for owner North State Street Stable, she returned $5.20 for her fifth win in a dozen '11 tries. The exacta paid $14, with the triple (three wagering choices) returning $36.
(Yonkers Raceway)