Yonkers Raceway's usual Friday night pair of $44,000 co-featured Opens--this week handicapped for distaff pacers, but not for trotters--were won by a repeating Rock N Soul (Jason Bartlett, $15.40) and favoured Second Hand News (Brian Sears, $3.60).
Rock N Soul, remanded outside her seven rivals, tucked in fourth as Keepers Destiny (Mark MacDonald) made the lead around Ticket To Rock (Cat Manzi) right at a :26.4 opening quarter-mile. Rock N Soul was out and moving again in turn two, powering past Keepers Destiny before a :55.4 intermission.
Shaky Hanover (Sears) tried her luck first-up going toward the 1:24 three-quarters, but never seriously threatened. That left Rock N Soul with a length and a half lead entering the lane. She then held off Keepers Destiny by a half-length in 1:52.2...matching her previous season's best. A belated, 2-1 fave Naughtytiltheend (Brent Holland) was third, with Ticket To Rock and Shaky Hanover completing the cashers.
For Rock N Soul, a five-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Howard Taylor and Frank Baldachino, it was her fifth win (as the fourth choice) in 21 '12 tries. The exacta paid $62.50, with the triple returning $112.50.
Leaving from post position No. 3, Second Hand News had minimal issues, working past inside number E L Rock (Dan Dube) and putting up early intervals of :28.3 and :58.3. Grain Of Truth (Eric Goodell) was out from fourth, but barely trotting in place passing a 1:27.1 three-quarters.
Second Hand News opened to a pair of lengths turning for home, then defeated E L Rock by a measured neck in 1:55.3. Celebrity Bluechip (Bartlett), KLM Express (Steve Smith) and MMs Lucky Boy (Holland) rounded out the payees.
For Second Hand News, a 10-year-old Pathway to Victory gelding co-owned (as Foulk Stables) by trainer Clarence Foulk and Gary Evans, it was his sixth win (second consecutive) in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $36.80, the triple returned $120.50 and the superfecta paid $600.
(Yonkers Raceway)