Lone lass Summertime Yankee (Matt Kakaley) stole away Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $42,500 Open Handicap Trot
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Leaving from post position No. 3, Summertime Yankee waltzed around Tasty Max (Jeff Gregory), making the lead before a :28.2 opening quarter-mile. Trottin Troy (Jim Pantaleano), the 6-5 choice, jumped if off in the first turn.
The leader remained so through a plodding :59-second intermission and 1:28 three-quarters, dealing with only mild pressure from a first-up Master Pine (Jason Bartlett). She widened to 2-1/4 lengths in the lane, then prevailed by a length in 1:58. Batalj Launcher (Eric Goodell) closed for second as the 25-1 rank outsider, with Donttellmywife (Stephane Bouchzrd), Master Pine and Tasty Max earning the minor moolah.
For Summertime Yankee, a six-year-old daughter of S Js Photo owned and trained by Tyler Raymer, she returned $18 (fifth choice) for her fifth win in 23 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $254.50, with the triple returning $1,881.
Friday night's co-featured $42,500 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace was a down-the-road effort by Symphony In Motion (Gregory).
Leaving from post No. 5, "Symphony" was put in motion through early fractions of :27.2 and :55.3. Soiree (Jordan Stratton) protected the pocket, while Western Graduate (Pantaleano)--Yonkers' fastest-ever female--found neither a seat nor the lead and was out for the duration.
Cuz She Can (Kakaley)--in with a Chester form spree but off three weeks--was parked with cover from her assigned eight-hole. She went wide nearing the 1:24.1 three-quarters, but could never get close. Symphony In Motion was a length to the good turning for home, before holding Soiree at bay by a length-and-a-half in 1:53.
Cuz She Can was a credible third, with Little Mermaid N (Bouchard) and 17-10 favourite Fleur De Lil A (Andrew McCarthy) grabbing the small change.
For Symphony In Motion, a six-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight co-owned by Joseph Jannuzzelli and Carol Demarch, she returned $10.40 (slight second choice) for her ninth win in 23 '10 tries. The exacta paid $46.40, with the triple returning $717.
(Yonkers Raceway)