Full Picture (Jason Bartlett), despite being parked nearly two turns, relished the road trip Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $52,000 co-featured Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace
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Leaving from post position No. 6, Full Picture had to wait her turn as 17-10 choice Breakheart Pass (Yannick Gingras) made the lead right before a :26.3 opening quarter-mile. Full Picture continued on, taking over in turn two and getting a :55.1 half.
Once Full Picture made the lead, Delightful Diva (Pat Berry) was stuck out there with Panagler (George Brennan) behind that one.
Full Picture found a 1:23.2 three-quarters, taking a length-and-a-half lead into the lane. Feeling You extricating herself from behind a tiring Breakheart Pass, angled back inside around the 1:51.4 mile marker but could not reach. Full Picture won by a half-length, getting the mile-and-one-sixteenth in 1:59.1 Cotton Candy (Brent Holland) closed well to grab the bottom of the ticket, with Breakheart Pass and Summer Snow (Brian Sears) grabbing the minor awards.
For Full Picture, a four-year-old daughter of Artsplace owned by Marvin Rounick and trained by Jerry Silverman, she returned $16.60 (fifth choice) for heir eight win in 18 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $187, with the triple returning $854.
Friday night's co-featured $52,000 Open Handicap Trot, reduced to a field of seven after Tough Challenger was a judges' scratch, saw 7-5 favourite Calchips Brute (Brennan) continue his fine form. Ordered outside his rivals, he watched early as Pembroke Prayer (Bartlett) and Speed Bomb (Gingras) took turns leading the parade. (:27.1 and :56.3). Past the half, The Chancellor (Holland) was first-up, with last week's winner, Pilgrims Chuckie (Dan Dube), second-over.
However, "Chuckie" misbehaved, moving Calchips Brute up to second-up. Speed Bomb and The Chancellor were about even at the 1:25.2 three-quarters, until the latter jumped it off. That left Calchips Brute to find for himself nearing the 1:55 mile. He edged past Speed Bomb, then held sway from KLM Express (Jim Marshall III), prevailing by three-quarters of a length in an added-distance 2:02.2. Whata Winner (Jim Doherty), Speed Bomb and Pembroke Prayer also made money.
For Calchips Brute, a five-year-old homebred son of Credit Winner owned by Diane Giuliano and trained by Trond Smedshammer, he returned $4.80 for his fifth win in 15 '11 tries. The exacta paid $31.40, with the triple returning $174.
Later on the card, the Canadian-owned Mystical Starlight (Eric Goodell) lowered Get Chipped's 1-1/16-mile trotting track record for aged mares to 2:02.2 with her winning performance in the $44,000 Preferred Handicap Trot. Ross Croghan trains the six-year-old daughter of Credit Winner-Miss Lovely for owner Glen Hobin of Stittsville, Ont.
Please be advised Yonkers has cancelled its live harness card for Saturday night (Aug. 27), due to oncoming Hurricane Irene. Simulcasting is scheduled through the duration of Saratoga's Travers Day Card, with first post at 11:35 a.m. and final post scheduled for 6:18 p.m. There is no simulcasting here Sunday. Live racing (and day/night simulcasting) is scheduled to resume Monday night (Aug. 29), with first post for all live cards at 7:10 p.m.
Also, the casino is tentatively scheduled to close Saturday night at 9 p.m., and remain closed all day Sunday. Guests are asked to refer to our website (www.yonkersraceway.com) for any change in casino hours.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)