Pair of upsets in $36,000 Yonkers Opens

Yonkers Raceway hosted two $36,000 Open harness racing events Thursday (June 15) and both were captured by 6-1 mild longshots.

Up first was the 7^th race Open Handicap Pace for 3–5-Year-Olds. It was simple enough for Southwind Petyr (American Ideal) and driver Joe Bongiorno, leaving from post seven and never looking back.

Once on the lead, Southwind Petyr cut fractions of :26.4 to the first quarter and :56 to the half mile with Shake It (Jason Bartlett) sitting on their backs and Take A Gamble (Scott Zeron) parked first-over with Kootenay Santanna (Yannick Gingras) second-over.  Race favorite Great Somewhere (Dan Dube) was third-over.

Down the backstretch they continued four in, three out past the three-quarters in 1:23.1. Southwind Petyr held control of his lead the entire stretch, winning with ease by one and one-half lengths in 1:51.2. Greg The Log (Brent Holland) was second with Take A Gamble third.

SOUTHWIND PETYR REPLAY

It was the sixth win on the year for Southwind Petyr. The five-year-old gelding is trained by Jenn Bongiorno, who co-owns the horse with Ben Mondello. He paid $15.00 to win.

The 8^th race was the $36,000 Open-Handicap Trot where Stormy Kromer (Dejarmbro) and driver Jason Bartlett upset the field, also going wire-to-wire.

Actually, Credit Con (Joe Bongiorno) was first on the lead but by the first quarter in :27.1, it was Stormy Kromer coming on the outside and taking command of the race.

To the half mile in :56, Stormy Kromer and Bartlett held the field at bay with no one willing to make a serious challenge. In the backstretch, the race favorite Incommunicado (Dan Dube) popped up first-over and started to gain some ground by the three-quarters in 1:24.3.

Around the final turn, Stormy Kromer was in command and then heading down the stretch it was Incommunicado who made up three lengths from the top of the stretch and give Stormy Kromer a scare. Stormy Kromer won by a neck in 1:54 over Incommunicado with Credit Con third.

STORMY KROMER REPLAY

It was the fourth win of the year for Stormy Kromer. The nine-year-old gelding is trained by Paul Stafford for owner Thomas Ceraso, Jr. He paid $15.80 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink