Proven Desire and Meladys Monet prevailed Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s pair of $46,000 Open Handicaps.
Proven Desire, from post position No. 2 in the week’s adult-table pace, went up and over a stopping Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing) down the backside. He then opened to 2-1/4 lengths off the final turn before finding the line just in time...and that time was a life-best 1:51.2.
Alluneedisfaith N (Joe Bongiorno) ran out of racetrack and missed a nose, with Epaulette A (Goodell), Ideal Jimmy (Brent Holland) and a trapped Great Vintage (Austin Siegelman) rounding out the payees. Micky Geen N (Jordan Stratton), as the 8-5 favourite, was a never-in-it sixth.
For sixth choice Proven Desire, a seven-year-old Proven Lover gelding co-owned by (trainer) Rene Allard and Simpson Racing, it was his third win in 15 seasonal starts. Jim Morrill, Jr. mapped out the winning trip for the pacer who paid $24.60 to win.
The week’s marquee trot saw Meladys Monet—from post No. 3—close from third over to win a four-way scrum in 1:54.3
Eye Ofa Tiger AS (Holland) photoed Smalltownthrowdown (Marohn, Jr.) for second—both beaten a half-length—with Mostinterestingman (Siegelman) and In Secret (George Brennan) settling for the minors. Will Take Charge (Stratton) was a non-factor sixth (last) as the 13-10 choice.
For fourth choice Meladys Monet, a $1.4 million Revenue S gelding owned by Melady Enterprises and trained by Hermann Heitmann, it was his sixth win in 15 tries this year. Eric Goodell mapped out the winning trip for the trotter who returned $16.40 to win.
(Yonkers)