Yonkers Raceway's Friday night $37,000 co-featured Open Handicaps -- Pace for the lasses and a Trot for all respondents -- were won by a resurgent Sir Jillian Z Tam (Pat Lachance, $10.80) and a pocket-patrolling Somebody AS (Jason Bartlett, $15.80).
'Jillian,' in play early from post position No. 2, made a quick lead through some no-to-so-quick fractions (:28.1, :57.2). Despite the pokey precincts, Campanille (Jordan Stratton) moved from fourth, overtaking the leader just past intermission.
Campanille worked her to a 1:24.3 three-quarters, with Ramalama (George Brennan) stalling the stalkers -- including 7-5 choice Royal Cee Cee N (Brian Sears) -- in the outer tier.
Campanille owned a length and a half lead into the lane, but 'Jillian' was just playing possum. She ducked inside and went after the leader, winning by a neck in 1:53. I Know Nothing (Eric Goodell) was a three-hole third, with Feeling You (Bartlett) and Royal Cee Cee N rounding the payees.
For third choice Sir Jillian Z Tam, a six-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight co-owned by her trainer/driver, Z Tam Stables and Ira Rosenblum, it was her fourth win in 25 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $136, with the triple returning $764.
The featured trot, pared to seven after the defection of early choice Supper Manning, saw 19-10 favorite Brandos Muscle Man (Brennan) on the prowl from pole (:28-flat quarter, :58.2 half). Somebody AS, from post No. 3, landed in behind, with Hesgotlegs (Mark MacDonald) seated third.
A first-up For You Almostfree (Dan Dube) was not threatening in and out a 1:27.1 three-quarters, so 'Brando' took a length and a quarter lead in and out of the final turn. However, he could not stave off the two rivals on his inside. Somebody AS went by, as did Hesgotlegs. The former whipped the latter by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.2.
'Brando' held third, with Lorenzo Dream (Brent Holland) and Bound For Fame (Stratton) settling for the minor moolah.
For fifth choice Somebody AS, a four-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding (maternal grandfather is the great Mack Lobell) trained by Annette Lorentzon for co-owned ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson, he's now three-for-11 this season. The exacta paid $198, the triple returned $557 and the superfecta paid $3,394.
Saturday is the 24th edition of the richest night of racing in the state. The $1.8 million New York Night of Champions offers eight, $225,000 sire stakes finals for two and three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. The events go as races two through nine on the 13-race card.
(Yonkers Raceway)