Yonkers Raceway returned from hiatus Friday night with a pair of $44,000 co-featured Open events, which included a trotting track record performance.
The weekly Open Handicap Trot was won by Blacktuxwhitesocks (George Brennan) in track-record timing.
Ordered outside his seven rivals, "Blacktux" settled in fourth as 11-10 choice Lorenzo Dream (Jason Bartlett) threw down the gauntlet from the pylons. "Lorenzo" put up a :27.4 opening quarter-mile and :57-second intermission, with Farifant (Mark MacDonald) second and MMs Lucky Boy (Brent Holland) third.
Going toward the 1:25.1 three-quarters, Farifant was done and "MM" took out of third. Blacktuxwhitesocks was on that one's back, while the back markers were too far back.
Lorenzo Dream opened to two and a quarter lengths turning for home, but the teletimer was taking its toll. First, MMs Lucky Boy went by him, then Blacktuxwhitesocks went by 'em both.
The margin was a length in 1:54.1, a new all-age track record, slapping two ticks off the previous troika of Shutter Boy (2009), Perfect Rendition and Big Sky Storm (both earlier this season).
Minor spoils for this race went to KM Express (Jack Baggitt Jr.) and Farifant. Ironically, Big Sky Storm was last here behind "Blacktux."
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 $5.60 (second choice) for his fourth win in 11 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $84, the triple returned $213 and the superfecta paid $1,319.
The Filly and Mare Open Pace was won by Keepers Destiny (Brennan) in snappy, two-move effort.
In play at the outset from post position No. 5 (in a couple of notches after a pair of defections), Keepers Destiny left into a three-hole as Naughtytiltheend (Holland) lined 'em up from the pole.
That one led through intervals of :27 and :55.4 before Keepers Destiny was moving again. Im Just Special for was pocketed and Fox Valley Sage (Cat Manzi) was second-up going toward the 1:23.1 three-quarters.
However, "Sage" was sputtering, which did nothing for the cause of 3-4 favourite Feeling You (Eric Goodell). That one, away last, had given herself way too much work to do.
All the while, Keepers Destiny has snatched the lead from a stubborn Naughtytiltheend passing the three-quarters, but could not open up any daylight. She eventually edged away late, winning by a length and three-quarters in a season's-best 1:52.
Feeling You photoed Naughtytiltheend for second, with Up Front Kellie Jo (MacDonald) and Im Just Special completing the cashers.
For Keepers Destiny, a six-year-old daughter of Intrepid Seelster owned by Merlin Howse and trained by Casie Coleman (also the co-breeders), she returned $5.30 (second choice) for her fifth win in 14 ’12 tries. The exacta paid $10.60, with the triple returning $32.60. Superfecta wagering was scrapped due to the short field.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)