Yonkers Raceway's pair of Friday night $46,000 co-features Open Handicaps -- for prim and proper pacers and everyone's-allowed trotters -- were won by millionairess-in-waiting Krispy Apple (Brian Sears, $2.60) and Super Manning (Sears again, $5.20).
The distaff derby, reduced to seven when scheduled inside starter Maries Z Tam came up ill, saw longshot Brownsville Bomber (Brent Holland) take her shot on the lead. After early intervals of :27.4 and :57.2 -- and with Keepers Destiny (Dan Dube) pocketed -- Southwind Jazmin (Jason Bartlett) tried it first-up.
Odds-on favourite Krispy Apple, who had floated into an early five-hole from what was now an outside post position No. 7, was behind that one going toward a 1:24.4 three-quarters. Brownsville Bomber had a length lead in and out of the final turn, but was giving way grudgingly.
It was a wide Krispy Apple going by, widening to a length and three-quarters in 1:53. Chasing her home were three ladies -- Keepers Destiny, Brownsville Bomber and a closing-stoutly Virgin Mary (Eric Goodell) -- who could not be separated by modern technology. Thus, a triple dead-heat for place, with Southwind Jazmin nearly making it a quartet on the line together.
For Krispy Apple, a five-year-old daughter of Western Ideal trained by PJ Fraley for co-owners Bamond Racing and Joseph Davino, it was her sixth win in a dozen seasonal starts (career earning now $984,468).
The exotics (pay close attention, there's a quiz), with a trio of bridesmaids, look like this (Keepers Destiny is indicated by "2", Brownsville Bomber is indicated by "4” and Virgin Mary is indicated by "7").
Exactas...8-2 paid $5.20, 8-4 paid $7.40, 8-7 paid $5.50.
Triples...8-2-4 returned $9.20, 8-2-7 returned $9.40, 8-4-2 returned $15, 8-4-7 returned $19.20, 8-7-2 returned $10.40, 8-7-4 returned $13.40.
Superfectas...8-2-4-7 paid $24.40, 8-2-7-4 paid $23.40, 8-4-2-7 paid $41.40, 8-4-7-2 paid $40, 8-7-2-4 paid $24.60, 8-7-4-2 paid $30.60.
The featured trot was a duel in the moon between outside assignees Super Manning and Monsignor Flan (Holland). Super Manning, unsighted since winning this race at 19-1 three weeks ago, had many more betting buddies on this night. The 8-5 favourite, ordered to post No. 7, worked around Lorenzo Dream (Jim Pantaleano) before a :28-second opening quarter-mile.
After a :56.4 intermission, eight-hole denizen Monsignor Flan moved from sixth. Briefly wide around a struggling Whata Winner (Jim Doherty), the 'Monsignor' engaged Super Manning in and out of a 1:25.4 three-quarters. Super Manning owned a length lead into the lane, then kept his challenger at hoof's length, winning by a neck in 1:54.3.
Lorenzo Dream was safely third, with Meladys Monet (Cat Manzi) and Son Of Nordic (Goodell) placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Whata Winner had crossed the line fourth, but was banished to the bottom for interference.
For Super Manning, a five-year-old homebred Diamond Goal gelding owned by Joe Pennacchio and trained by Brandon Todd, it was his fourth win in 17 '13 starts. The exacta paid $19.40, with the triple (three wagering favourites in order) returning $46.80.
(Yonkers Raceway)