Top Flight Angel two-moved from the eight-hole Saturday, Sept. 8th to win Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $44,000 Open Handicap Trot.
Driver Brian Sears ground his way up and over Yes Mickey heading to the turn. The mile went in 1:55 after Yes Mickey’s intervals of :28.1, 57.3 and 1:25.4.
Third went to a belated Tight Lines, Charmed Life and Elysium Lindy settled for the minors while slight 2-1 choice Rose Run Sydney jumped early.
For fourth-choice Top Flight, a four-year-old son of Archangel with over $614,000 in earnings owned by Legendary Standardbred Farm and trained by Julie Miller, it was his fourth win in 10 starts this season. He paid $17.20 to win. The exacta paid $80, the triple returned $225 and the superfecta paid $1,413.
Saturday night’s $44,000 Open Handicap Pace saw pole-assigned Sunfire Blue Chip retake from 7-10 favourite Evenin Of Pleasure, then win comfortably in 1:51.3.
Back for his first visit in nearly three months, Sunfire Blue Chip defeated a first-up Theartofconfusion A by a length and a quarter with Evenin Of Pleasure, Somewhere in L A and Always at My Place coming away with the remainder.
For second choice Sunfire Blue Chip, an eight-year-old son of American Ideal with over $1.4 million in earnings trained by Jimmy Takter for co-owners Christina Takter, John & Jim Fielding, Brixton Medical and R A W Equine, it was his sixth win in 18 tries this season. Driven by Mark MacDonald, he paid $7.50 to win. The exacta paid $37.60, the triple returned $105 and the superfecta paid $632.
A friendly reminder from Yonkers Raceway that the Monday, Sept. 10 Pick 5 wager starts with a carryover of $4,294.21 and a $15,000 guaranteed pool. The guarantee is in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.
The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager comprising races 6 through 10 Monday night. It has no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners (as was the case Saturday night), the entire pool (minus takeout) moves to the next racing program.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)