Faced with a scenario for which there was no rule in place, Saturday night’s $500,000 final of Yonkers Raceway’s 63rd Yonkers Trot shall go postward with a field of nine three-year-olds.
The odd circumstance came about after Di Oggi and Southwind Hydro finished in a dead-heat for fourth in the second of last weekend’s two elimination races. Since the first four trotters in each earn berths into the final and Yonkers Trot conditions did not allow for ‘heaters’ to determine finalists, Raceway management decided to permit both horses into the race.
(Author’s aside…provisions for such future instances shall be addressed when the race conditions are amended to separate ‘by lot’ when necessary.)
That said, elimination (purse $40,000 each) winners Guardian Angel AS (Jason Bartlett) and Yes Mickey (Ake Svanstedt) drew post position Nos. 4 and 6, respectively. The Trot, second jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown, goes as the fifth race (approx.. post time 8:35 p.m.).
$500,000 Yonkers Trot
1. Devious Man (Andy Miller)
2. Di Oggi (Montrell Teague)
3. Southwind Cobra (Matt Kakaley),
4. Guardian Angel AS (Jason Bartlett),
5. Southwind Hydro (Marcus Johansson),
6. Yes Mickey (lone gelding, Ake Svanstedt),
7. Money Macintosh (Jordan Stratton),
8. Another Chapter (Dan Dube),
9. Top Flight Angel (Brian Sears, second tier)
The 62nd Messenger (race No. 4, approx.. post 8:15 p.m.) had not such “sponsor’s exception” issues after Art Rooney Pace winner Downbytheseaside matched the fastest local pacing mile of the season (1:51). He won last Saturday’s (Aug. 26th) lone $40,000 elim by 8-1/2 unasked lengths.
He does, however, have to negotiate post No. 7 in this Saturday night’s half-million-dollar second jewel of the Pacing Crown, also for three-year-olds.
$500,000 Messenger
1. Macs Jackpot (Bartlett)
2. Summer Side (Tim Tetrick)
3. Miso Fast (Kakaley)
4. Art Scene (Stratton)
5. Funknwaffles (Corey Callahan)
6. Blood Line (Mark MacDonald)
7. Downbytheseaside (Sears)
8. Henry The Dragon (Teague)
The ladies’ companion events, for soph lasses, are the one-dash-for-the-cash $119,010 Hudson Filly Trot and $113,880 Lady Maud Pace.
The Hudson goes as the third race (approx. post 7:55 p.m.)
$119,010 Hudson Filly Trot
1. Dangle Then Deke (Eric Goodell)
2. Chapter Too (Jeff Gregory)
3. Lexie Marie (George Brennan)
4. Celebrity Ruth (Bartlett)
5. Mamora Bay (Sam Schillaci)
6. Sunshine Delight (Brett Miller)
7. Evelyn (Andy Miller)
8. Ice Attraction (Svanstedt).
The Maud wraps the stakes portion as the sixth race (approx.. post 8:55 p.m.)
$113,880 Lady Maud Pace
1. Angels Pride (Kakaley)
2. Tori Hanover (MacDonald)
3. Awash (Stratton)
4. Gurl Band K (Yannick Gingras)
5. Ella Christina (Tetrick)
6. Robin J (Bartlett)
7. World Apart (Bartlett also listed).
Program changes shall be made Tuesday afternoon. Post time for the dozen-race card is the usual 7:10 p.m.
Yonkers Trot, Messenger Saturday Includes T-Shirt, Free Wager
It would not be a Yonkers Raceway stakes program without the freebie – or freebies.
Saturday night’s (Sept. 2nd) dozen-race card, worth just under $1.5 million, is highlighted by a pair of half-million-dollar Triple Crown numbers, the 63rd Yonkers Trot and Messenger Stakes No. 62.
If that’s that not enough, there’s the fashionable T-shirt giveaway and a free wager.
The first 3,000 Empire Club members can stop by the promotions booth beginning at 4 p.m. to pick up their shirts (again, it’s while supplies last and one per member, please). The first 500 EC members who visit the booth starting at 4 p.m. also receive a pre-printed, Yonkers Trot, two-horse, $2 exacta box ticket.
The Messenger and Yonkers Trot go as Races 4 and 5, respectively. First post is the usual 7:10 p.m.
(Yonkers)