Co-feature Invitational trots held at Yonkers

Yonkers Raceway was the scene of two $35,000 Invitational Trots Thursday night (May 9) at the Hilltop half-mile harness racing oval.

The first of the co-features was the 2^nd race Invitational for fillies and mares that P L Notsonice (Kadabra) and driver Scott Zeron grind their way to the lead before winning with ease.

Perfect Vixen (Jordan Stratton) went right to the lead from post five and cut the mile with Lady Jeter (Brent Holland) sitting right on their backs through fractions of :28.1 and then :57.3 before the action heated up.

In the backstretch, race favorite P L Notsonice and Zeron came first-over with Pariso (Jason Bartlett) following second-over as they came after Perfect Vixen, who led passed the three-quarters in 1:25.3.

Around the final turn and by the top of the stretch P L Notsonice was able to look Perfect Vixen in the eye and passed on by, holding the field at bay in the stretch in winning by two and one-half lengths in 1:54.4. Pariso was second with Lady Jeter third.

P L NOTSONICE REPLAY

It was the second straight win and fourth of the season for P L Notsonice. The seven-year-old mare is trained by Steven Brabrook for Elite Harness Racing, LLC and paid $2.80 to win.

Then in the 8^th race $35,000 co-feature for the horses, it was Nows The Moment (Credit Winner) and driver Jordan Stratton who were able to wire the field, thanks in part to a break by race favorite Hillexotic on the final turn.

Royalty Beer (Pat Lachance) was first on the lead with Nows The Moment leaving from post seven and taking control of the race at the opening quarter mile in :28.1.

They then raced single file to the half mile in :58.1 before Herodotus (Tyler Buter) came first-over in the backstretch followed by Hillexotic (Yannick Gingras) second-over. The three-quarters was reached in 1:26.3.

Then on the final turn, Hillexotic jumped it off and Nows The Moment had just enough momentum off the final turn and down the stretch to hold off the pocket-sitting Royalty Beer by a neck in 1:55.4. Herodotus was third.

NOWS THE MOMENT REPLAY

It was the second straight win and sixth of the year for Nows The Moment. The nine-year-old gelding posted his 51^st career win. He is trained by Mr. Allison Mac Donald for Sonya Mac Donald and paid $9.70 to win.

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

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink