Marion Marauder returned to Westchester Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $44,000 Open Handicap Trot.
The 2016 Trotting Triple Crown winner, in his first local visit since finishing second in last fall’s million-dollar Yonkers International Trot, was unsurprisingly better than his seven inside foes. Marion Marauder just sat out there for driver Jordan Stratton, moving from seventh to fifth at the half (:27, :57).
He advanced down the backside the second time, making up ground even though they weren’t going that much up front. Marion Marauder went three-wide around Madhatter Bluechip (Joe Bongiorno), setting his sights on leading Bluebird Jesse (Brent Holland) passing a 1:25.3 three-quarters.
The odds-on choice took over soon after, opening a length-and-a-half into the lane. He then held off Smalltownthrowdown (Dan Dube) by a half-length in 1:55.1.
It was the 2016 Yonkers Trot all over again, except Stratton (six winners during Saturday’s dozen-race card) was cast in the role of Scott Zeron and Dube subbing for Dan Daley behind the runner-up. Daley had Smalltownthrowdown at two and three.
Third went to DWs NY Yank (George Brennan), with Bluebird Jesse and Madhatter Bluechip rounding out the payees.
For Marion Marauder, a five-year-old son of Muscle Hill co-owned by Marion Wellwood and Devin Keeling & trained by the tandem of Paula Wellwood and Mike Keeling (Ms. Wellwood is listed stateside), it was his second win in four seasonal starts (career earnings up over $2.6 million).
Saturday night’s co-featured $44,000 Open Handicap Pace was won by Always At My Place (Brennan, $12) in 1:51.1, a 40th career victory by far a season’s-best effort.
(Yonkers)