Texican N (Eric Carlson $19.20) and Meladys Monet (Jason Bartlett, $3.20) each went from pocket to paydirt Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s holiday $42,000 co-featured Open Handicaps.
Texican N, from post position No. 3 in the weekly featured pace, found himself sequestered in the two-hole behind Rock On Moe (Jordan Stratton). That one led through intervals of :27.1, 57.1 and 1:25.1, with P H Supercam (Bartlett) making a second move. It was “Moe” taking a short lead into the lane, with he and P H Supercam slugging it out. That left Texican N waiting his turn, and he dove inside to win a three-way scrum. The margin, over win-the-battle-lose-the-war P H Supercam, was a head in a season’s-best 1:52.4, with Rock On Moe third, beaten a half-length. The small change went to McErlean (Tyler Buter) The Real One (Pat Lachance).
For fifth choice Texican N, a six-year-old Down Under Bettors Delight gelding owned by Harry von Knoblauch and trained by Peter Tritton, it was his third win in 18 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $104, with the triple returning $409.50.
As for odds-on Meladys Monet, he just shows up here for holidays. Last seen in Westchester Halloween Night, he was a solid winner here in the week’s marquee trot.
Leaving from post No. 6 (in one notch after an inside scratch), the 3-5 choice made the lead before yielding to Luminosity (George Brennan). Subsections of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:26 (weak, first-over company in the form of Tweet Me [Tyler Buter]) gave Luminosity a length lead in and out of the final turn. However, he couldn’t stave off a pylon-diving Meladys Money, who edged away by a length and a quarter in 1:55. Take My Picture (Mark MacDonald), E R Ellie (Stratton) and Lorenzo Dream (Carlson) settled for the remainder.
For Meladys Monet, a six-year-old Revenue S gelding owned by Melady Enterprises and trained by Kevin McDermott, it was his seventh win in 15 ’15 tries. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $7.10, the triple returned $32.40 and the superfecta paid $174.
Note that since no one took down Saturday’s Pick 5, Monday night’s gimmick — already with a $10,000 guaranteed pool — begins with a carryover of $2,881.61 (50-cent base wager, races seven through 11).
(Yonkers Raceway)