A pair of people's preferences, American Lane and Elusive Prey, shared Yonkers Raceway's Friday night marquee by winning their respective $40,000 Open Handicaps.
American Lane (Dan Dube) won the weekly trotting feature, working out a pocket trip from Post 6. He then out gamed both the first-up defending champ Likeabatoutahell (Stephane Bouchard) and the pace-setting Grain of Truth (Jeff Gregory) in 1:56.1. The Bat had to settle for second this week, with San Remo Kosmos (Greg Grismore) and Roman Holiday (Jordan Stratton) also netting appearance fees.
American Lane, a six-year-old Primrose Lane gelding trained by Carl Cito Jr. for co-owners David Scarf and Jerry Silva, prevailed by a length-and-a-quarter for his 10th win in 29 seasonal starts. He paid $5.20, with the exacta returning $15.40 (both horses sent off at 8-5) and the triple good for $67.50.
Elusive Prey (Stephane Bouchard) defended her distaff derby title, rolling from the six-hole as the odds-on choice. She defeated Twin B Tiara (Grismore) by a length-and-a-half in 1:54.3. Miss Galvinator A (Pat Berry), Carousel Frame (Jim Pantaleano) and Western Graduate (Eric Abbatiello) earned the rest of the weekend spending money.
For Elusive Prey, a four-year-old daughter of Western Hanover, she paid $2.90 for her sixth win (third consecutive) in 18 tries this year. The winner, trained by Kevin Johnson for co-owners Joe and Joann Thomson and Rebecca Williams, led a $16.20 exacta and $92 triple.
Friday night's $32,000 New York Bred Call For Rain Late Closer, with three $10,800 divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies went to Lesleys Jlo Belle (Jason Bartlett) for trainer Ray Van Dreason, Mery Linny Lee (Tony Morgan) for trainer John Stark, Jr., and Four Starz Melody (Dube) for trainer Carmine Fusco.
(With files from Yonkers)