Sometimes, handicapping isn’t about trying to reinvent the wheel. With that fun factoid in mind, the last time Allerage Star was in an Open Handicap Trot, she won. The last time The Real One was in an Open Handicap Pace, he won.
Encore, encore. Both repeated Saturday night, coming away with Yonkers Raceway's co-features.
Allerage Star (Andy Miller, $13.80), from post position No. 6 after a week off, was given deft, two-move marching orders.
She worked around first leader Ladys Dude (George Brennan) just after a :28.2 opening quarter-mile. The lass found a :57.3 intermission before E R Ellie (Jordan Stratton) made her second move, first-up from third. Meladys Monet (Tyler Buter), tucking fourth as the just-over-even-money favourite, worked from second-over.
Allerage Star found a 1:26 three-quarters, taking a length and three-quarter lead into the lane. That was enough to hold off a charging ‘Melady,’ who missed a half-length in 1:54...track record for her weight class.
Ladys Dude was a pocket third, with E R Ellie and Madman Hall (Ray Schnittker) rounding out the payees.
For fourth choice Allerage Star, a four-year-old daughter of Angus Hall trained by Julie Miller for co-owners Little E, Jason Settlemoir, Arthur Geiger and David Stolz, the win was her eighth in 19 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $37.80, with the triple returning $101.
The week’s marquee pace saw The Real One (Pat Lachance, $15), last week’s champ, save every inch of this week’s ground.
From post No. 5, he was an unhurried sixth as Sapphire City (Mark MacDonald), then Melmerby Beach (Dan Dube) led through intervals of :27, :55.4 and 1:23.2. ‘Melmerby’ had a length lead in and out of the final turn.
P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett), who had found a seat third, went after Melmerby Beach in earnest, collaring him mid-stretch. He was good, but The Real One was better.
Slipping through deep in the passing lane, he lassoed ‘Supercam,’ drawing out to win by a length in a season’s-best-matching 1:51. Sapphire City, 1-2 choice Bit Of A Legend N (Stratton) and Melmerby Beach came away with the minors.
For second choice The Real One, a six-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by his driver for owner Helene Filion, he’s now five-for-18 this season. The exacta paid $61.50, the triple returned $676 and the superfecta paid $1,440.
Note that since no one hit Saturday’s Pick 5, Monday evening’s (July 18) Pick 5 wager begins with a carryover of $3,020.94 (50-cent base wager, races seven through 11).
New York Sire Stakes continue Monday night, with the $145,923 Mike Cohen Trot (two-year-old fillies). Thursday night, it’s the $151,624 Jim Meagher Pace (two-year-old colts/geldings).
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)