Yonkers Raceway's pair of Friday night $44,000 Open Handicaps - for trotters and distaff pacers, respectively - were won by second choice MMs Lucky Boy (Brent Holland, $8.90) in 1:55 and people's choice Feeling You (Eric Goodell, $4) in 1:53.2.
The trotting feature saw double-digit proposition Looking Hanover (Mark MacDonald) plow through early intervals of :28 and :57.2. Wuthering Hanover (Jim Pantaleano) protected the pocket, while Speed Bomb (Jason Bartlett) was parked for his troubles. Both MMs Lucky Boy, assigned post position No. 4, and 3-4 choice Blacktuxwhitesocks (George Brennan) from post No. 7 (in one notch after a defection), trailed.
Moving toward the 1:26.2 three-quarters, the back markers had to get around that road block. MMs Lucky Boy and 'Blacktux' each went up and over the obstruction, setting sights on the longshot leader. Turning for home, the baton had changed hooves, with MMs Lucky Boy owning a length lead over a tiring Looking Hanover. He then held Blacktuxwhitesocks at bay by a half-length. Big Sky Storm (Jordan Stratton), Looking Hanover and Lorenzo Dream (Jeff Gregory) grabbed the minor moolah.
For MMs Lucky Boy, a five-year-old Malabar Millennium gelding trained by Erv Miller for himself, along with David and John Prushnok, it was his fifth win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $23.80, with the triple returning $182.
The lasses saw Feeling You quickly neutralize her assigned eight-hole and take it the distance, with intervals along the way of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.2. Run On Luck (Brennan), was a pocket second - beaten a length and a half - with Naughtytiltheend (Holland), Shaky Hanover (Stratton) and Up Front Kelli Jo (MacDonald) rounding out the payees.
For Feeling You, a five-year-old daughter of Cambest trained by Amber Buter for co-owners Gallicchio Racing Stable, Tyler Buter and Vincent Cannella, she's now nine-for-20 this season. The exacta paid $9.50, with the triple returning $34.80, and the superfecta paid $296.
The Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace, long a Yonkers Raceway stakes staple for two-year-old colts and geldings, returns after a nine-year hiatus Saturday night. A trio of $25,000 elims lead into next Saturday's final, worth $119,000.
(Yonkers Raceway)