Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps -- one for distaff pacers and one for trotters of any gender that’s out there -- were won by a from-last Royal Cee Cee N (Brian Sears, $15) and Somebody AS (Dan Dube, $17.60).
Unhurried from outside her seven rivals, Royal Cee Cee N saw last week’s victress, Venus Delight (Jason Bartlett), out past a :27.1 opening quarter-mile and into Turn 2 before making the lead.
The slight 2-1 choice then rated a :56.2 intermission before Classy Lane Rose (Dube) moved from fifth. However, she didn’t continue that bid in and out of a 1:24.4 three-quarters, forcing Campanile (Eric Carlson) wide and Royal Cee Cee N even wider.
Venus Delight opened a couple of lengths in and out of the final turn and looked home before a relentless close by Royal Cee Cee N. Sixth -- nearly five lengths back -- turning for home, she snapped “Venus” on the money, winning by a nose in 1:53.3. Campanile, Set Me Up (George Brennan) and Strings (Eric Goodell) rounded out the payees.
The win was the third of six on the Friday night card for Sears.
For millionairess and fifth choice Royal Cee Cee N, an eight-year-old Down Under daughter of Christian Cullen owned and trained by Mark Harder, the win was her sixth (third consecutive and 40th career) in 24 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $114, with the triple returning $293.50.
The week’s marquee trot was a two-speed number, with 2013 Yonkers Trot champ Dewycolorintheline (Jordan Stratton) putting up intervals of :28.1, :58.3, 1:26.3, all the while shadowed by Somebody AS. The latter, after an early sequester from post position No. 4, went inside and went by. The margin was three-quarters of a length in 1:55. Wishing Stone (Brennan), last week’s winner -- and this week’s 9-5 choice -- Traverse Seelster (Tyler Buter) and Obrigado (Brent Holland) completed the cashers.
For fourth choice Somebody AS, a five-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding co-owned by Acl Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson and trained by Anette Lorentzon, he’s now four-for-15 this season. The exacta paid $90, the triple returned $847 and the superfecta paid $2,806.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)