Centurion ATM (Steve Smith, $33.80) and Feel The Need A (Eric Goodell, $5.10) were the names above the marquee Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 co-featured Open Handicaps.
Centurion ATM surprised in the weekly trotting feature in a first-up and first-home effort. Away fourth from post position No. 3, he saw 9-10 choice Meladys Monet (Tyler Buter) lead through intervals of :28, :58 and 1:27.1.
Centurion ATM moved in a hurry, disposing of ‘Melady’ just after the thee-quarters and taking off. He opened three lengths entering the lane, then held a belated Undercover Strike (Jason Bartlett) by a half-length in 1:55.1.
Ladys Dude (George Brennan), Allerage Star (Dan Dube) and Meladys Monet rounded out the payees.
For fifth choice Centurion ATM, a four-year-old son of S Js Caviar trained by Ake Svanstedt for co-owners Courant A B and Knuttson Trotting, the win was his second in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $223.50, with the triple returning $1,613.
It was a much better effort for ‘Centurion' than his only other local try, breaking early and often as the odds-on choice in an elim for the 2015 Yonkers Trot.
The week’s adult pace saw favoured Feel The Need A make it three-for-three since coming stateside. From post No. 5, he two-moved before the quarter, taking over from Doctor Butch (Brent Holland) and zipping around the pylons (:27.1, :55.3, 1:23.3, life-best 1:50.4).
Doctor Butch ducked inside, but missed a half-length. Western Rockstar A (Joe Bongiorno) was third, with Great Vintage (Dan Dube) and P H Supercam (Bartlett) dead-heating for fourth.
For Feel The Need A, a seven-year-old Down Under Speed King gelding trained by Chris Oakes for co-owners Susan Oakes and Wier All In, he’s now five-for-14 this season. The exacta paid $17.20, the triple returned $114.50 and the superfectas paid $359.50/$303.50 (Great Vintage fourth/P H Supercam fourth).
Note that since no one hit Saturday’s Pick 5 wager, Monday evening’s (August 22) gimmick begins with a carryover of $3,501.50 (50-cent base wager, races seven through 11).
(Yonkers Raceway)