Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps -- for distaff pacers and all duly-licensed trotters -- were won by the odds-on duet of Quebec-owned Yagonnakissmeornot (Dan Dube, $3.80) and NF Happenstance (Brian Sears, $3.30).
Yagonnakissmeornot, generously assigned post position No. 5, was thus put in play early. She was the first leader, then giving it up to Robin Cruiser (Jordan Stratton) before a :26.4 opening quarter-mile. After a :55.3 intermission, Virgin Mary (Eric Goodell) moved first-up from sixth.
That one actually had about a head in front of the leader passing the 1:24.1 three-quarters, with Monkey On My Wheel (Sears) second-up. However, “Robin” fought back and fought back, though she could not stall a late surge by “Yagonnakissme.”
The people’s choice snuck past, winning by a neck in 1:52.1, Monkey On My Wheel, Virgin Mary and Classy Lane Rose (Brent Holland) rounded out the payees.
For Yagonnakissmeornot, a five-year-old daughter of The Panderosa co-owned by trainer Rene Allard (as Allard Racing), Yves Sarrazin and Kapildeo Singh, it was her ninth win in 21 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $11.60, with the triple (two wagering favourites in order) returning $33.80.
The week’s marquee trot saw newly-sold NF Happenstance pay immediate dividends. Assigned post No. 4, she and Lorenzo Dream (Eric Carlson) alternated through early intervals of :28.1 and :58. The favourite retook before the half, then saw Bingo Queen (Brent Holland) try it first-up. That one offered mild grief in and out of a 1:26.3 three-quarters.
NF Happenstance opened a couple of lengths in and out of the final turn, then rebuffed a closing “Lorenzo” by a head in 1:55.2. Bingo Queen held third, with Tober (Jason Bartlett) and Harbor Point (Dube) claiming the minor awards.
For NF Happenstance, a four-year-old daughter of SJs Caviar owned by William Weaver and trained by Noel Daley, she’s now nine-for-20 this season. The exacta paid $11, the triple returned $90 and the superfecta paid $331.50.
Also Friday. 92-1 bomb Cosmicpedia (Dube) lit up the to the tune of $187 when he won the $16,000, seventh race pace. That number led a $1,048 exacta (Superbowl Party second) and $3,624 triple (Aussie Reactor A third). Later on, there was “only” a 51-1 winner...Be Pacific (Goodell, $105.50) in the $18,000, 10th race pace.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)