Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps -- for distaff pacers and all-allowed trotters -- were won by former O'Brien Award winner Monkey On My Wheel (Jason Bartlett, $3.10) and Fort Valley As (Bartlett again, $13.40).
Odds-on choice Monkey On My Wheel, working from a rather-generous post position No. 5 starting venue, gave nothing else a chance. She strolled around pole-assigned invader Icommandmyspirit (Larry Stalbaum), then set down fractions of :27.3 and :56.1. Summertime Lea (George Brennan), who found an early tuck, moved again going toward the 1:24 three-quarters. However, “Lea” couldn’t threaten as millionairess Monkey On My Wheel opened two and a half lengths entering the lane. The final margin was a length and a half in 1:52, matching a season’s-best.
Last week’s victress, Robin Cruiser (Jordan Stratton), closed for second, with Summertime Lea, Virgin Mary (Eric Goodell) and Icommandmyspirit rounding out the payees.
For “Monkey,” a six-year-old homebred daughter of Mach Three owned by Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont. and trained by Casie Coleman, the win was her eighth in 18 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $15.80, with the triple returning $68.50.
The week’s marquee trot saw Fort Valley As -- inside of three leavers, he from post No. 5 -- wind up pocketed. Lorenzo Dream (Brennan) made the lead from his outside seven-hole (in one notch after a defection), while Amigo Ranger (Dan Dube) broke. “Lorenzo” found a :27.4 opening quarter-mile, at which returning 2013 Yonkers Trot champ Dewycolorintheline (Stratton), as the 6-5 fave, tried to move from third before sitting back down. A :57.3 intermission and 1:26.3 three-quarters saw “Lorenzo” and “Fort Valley” have the race to themselves, with the former a length and a half turning for home. However, the latter quickly closed ranks, then edged away. Fort Valley As won by a length and a quarter in a season’s-best 1:55.2.
Lorenzo Dream was a safe second, with Dewycolorintheline third, beaten four lengths. Ima Que T (Eric Carlson) and Itzaziam (Pat Berry) settled for the remainder.
For fourth choice Lorenzo Dream, a six-year-old Tom Ridge gelding owned and trained by Jennifer Sabot, the win was his third in 11 ’14 starts. The exacta paid $70.50, the triple returned $259.50 and the superfecta paid $1,019.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)