It’s a Reynolds wrap

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, May 12, 2018 – It's a Reynolds Wrap. The mercurial W.N. Reynolds Memorial found its way to Westchester Saturday night (May 12th), with Yonkers Raceway hosting six divisions for harness racing 3-year-olds pacers of both genders. More than $132,000 was up for grabs in three 'moist' divisions each for the boys and the girls.

The fastest male mile of the $23,066 per race trio was turned in by odds-on Wes Delight (Cory Callahan, $2.70). From post position No. 4, he took over from a 90-1 bombardier and finished the first event from there (:27.3, :56.2, 1:25.1, 1:53.3). Wes Delight defeated Trump Nation (Jason Bartlett) by 2½ lengths, with 129-1 proposition Yupper (Brett Miller) third.

For Wes Delight, a son of Bettor's Delight co-owned by (trainer) Mark Harder, Rick Phillips and Deena Frost, it was his second win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $11.40, with the triple returning $261.50.

"A little kid could drive him," Callahan said. "He had the leader stop in front of him (in PA Sire Stakes at the Meadows), so I thought if I could make the front, I'd leave with him.

"He does only what's asked of him.".

The other colt/gelding divisions were won by…

–My Delight (by Betterthancheddar); owner Bay Pond Racing Stable/trainer Homer Hochstetler/driver Brent Holland; 1:55.1/$71;

–Mach N Cheese,g (by Betterthancheddar); owner Save the Day Stable/trainer Rob Harmon/driver Jordan Stratton; 1:54.1/$7.40.

It was feast or famine for Harmon after last season's Sheppard winner, Kwik Talkin' (Stratton), stopped badly on the lead in the second division. He wound up last at 1-5, presenting the trainer with some questions before next week's eliminations for the Art Rooney Pace.

"The track was hard and he's had some foot problems," Harmon said. "The (entry) box closes Monday afternoon, so we have to see how he's doing."

Saturday night's trio of Reynolds for the ladies, worth $21,066, $21,066 and $21,566, respectively, were won by…

–Checkered Past (by American Ideal); owner All Star Racing/trainer Peter Foley/driver Mark MacDonald; 1:54.1/$3.40;

–Presto Blue Chip (by American Ideal); co-owners Howard & Michael Ouriel/trainer Jeff Smith/driver Brett Miller; 1:54.2/$6.50;

–Alexa's Power (by Somebeachsomewhere); owner Jeff Snyder/trainer Jim Campbell/driver Tim Tetrick; 1:54.4/$9.30.

Not to be outdone, the $44,000 Open Handicap Pace saw Evenin' of Pleasure (Joe Bongiorno, $9.30) beat up his rivals by seven lengths in 1:51.1…fastest local effort of the season. The 8-year-old son of Dragon Again, owned by Gestion J Y Blais and trained by Jennifer Bongiorno, is approaching $900,000 in career coin.

The $44,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by favored Seasoned Saint (Bartlett, $5) in a season's-best 1:55.3.

Frank Drucker