Yonkers Raceway cancels after 4th race

Due to thunder, rain and lightning storms, Yonkers Raceway was only able to get in four races before having to cancel the rest of the harness racing card Thursday, July 27.

It was to be New York Sire Stakes Night at the track with two divisions of the sire stakes and four divisions of the Excelsior Series, all for two-year-old trotting fillies. One division of each was cancelled.

The 4^th race was the $77,300 first division of the NYSS where R Melina (Chapter Seven) sat a pocket trip for driver Tyler Buter as Senorita Palema (Chapter Seven) and driver Ake Svanstedt cut the mile.

Fractions were :29.1, and 1:00.1 to the half when Communion Money (Crazy Wow) and driver Scott Zeron came first-over and was third as they passed the three-quarters in 1:30.

Coming down the stretch R Melina was able to finally collar Senorita Palema and win by three-quarters of a length in 1:59, last quarter in :28.4. Senorita Palema held for second with Communion Money third.

R MELINA REPLAY

It was the second straight win and third triumph in four lifetime starts for R Melina. She is trained by John Butenschoen for M & L of Delaware, LLC and the Alabama Harness Associates, LLC. She paid $5.10 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink