Rank outsider Virgin Mary (Matt Kakaley) and favoured Meladys Monet (Jason Bartlett) were the toasts of the town Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $38,000 Open Handicaps.
Virgin Mary, given a perfect second-over sojourn in the distaff derby, picked off her tow, Monkey On My Wheel (Brian Sears). The margin was a neck in a moist 1:54.
'Monkey,' ordered behind the eight-ball after four wins and a second in her last five tries, settled in fourth. She saw Keystone Wanda (Brent Holland), Cocoa Beach (Jordan Stratton) and Fast And Feisty (Dan Dube) all leave inside of her. After early intervals of :27.2 and :57.1, Monkey On My Wheel was out again, engaging Cocoa Beach in and out of a 1:25.3 three-quarters.
Monkey On My Wheel put the leader her away soon after, opening to a length and a half in the lane. However, Virgin Mary -- hitching a ride from post position No. 2 -- did go on by. Fashion Mystery (Eric Carlson), slight 19-10 choice Krispy Apple (Bartlett) and Fast And Feisty completed the cashers.
'Mary,' a six-year-old Village Jolt homebred owned by Howard Taylor and trained by Tom Shay, returned an even $50 for her third win in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $298.50, with the triple returning $2,162.
The week’s marquee trot was a two-speed number, with 13-10 choice Meladys Monet -- from post No. 4 -- and Lorenzo Dream (Sears) lined up. The latter worked around the former (:28.4, :58.2, 1:27.2), with Bonus Trot Series champ Itzaziam (Pat Berry) moving from third.
'Lorenzo,' up by half-length in and out of the final turn, had the measure of Itzaziam, but not Meladys Monet. The latter ducked inside, whipping Lorenzo Dream by a half-length in a season’s-best 1:56. Itzaziam held well for third despite the big class hike, with Fortunista (Carlson) and Ray Hall (Brent Holland) settling for the remainder.
'Melady,' a five-year-old Revenue S gelding owned by Melady Enterprises and trained by Taylor Gower, returned $4.70 for his third win in 13 ’14 tries. The exacta (two wagering favourites) paid $13.80, the triple returned $59.50 and the superfecta paid $224.50.
A $10,518.87 double-carryover in the Pick 5 wager means a $25,000 pool is guaranteed for Saturday night. The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager on races five through nine.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)