As a general rule, investing in half-mile track eight-hole trotters is not the soundest handicapping philosophy.
Sometimes, however, the risk-reward equation gets tossed on its ear. It was Tuesday afternoon, courtesy of Military Blue (Mark MacDonald), who lit up Yonkers Raceway’s toteboard to the tune of a $229.50 win mutuel.
Beating only a lone breaker early in the $25,000 sixth race, Military Blue improved steadily, eventually operating from second over.
Widest turning for home, he not only won, he did so going away. Military Blue defeating pace-setting, odds-on favorite Capt Serious (Scott Zeron) by a couple of lengths in 1:57.1. Lindylicious (George Brennan) was third.
The upsetter, a four-year-old Lucky Chucky gelding co-owned by (trainer) David Hoover and Albert Abdala III, is now 2-for-11 this season. He led a $575 exacta and $1,970 triple.
(with files from Yonkers)