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Yonkers Raceway played host to three $39,000 pacing feature events Monday evening (Aug. 19). One was for the top older harness racing horses in the Invitational and two were 3-5-year-old Open events. Twp of the three features were won by driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander as they ended the night with four winners each.
The main event was the 9th race Invitational-Handicap Pace where race favorite Desperate Man (Shadow Play) and driver Matt Kakaley was parked out to the opening quarter mile and then wired the field, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.3. Carabao A (Tyler Buter) was second with Whats Stanley Got A (Jason Bartlett) third.
DESPERATE MAN REPLAY
It was the second straight win and eighth triumph of the year for Desperate Man. The six-year-old gelding is trained by Travis Alexander for owner Kathy Cecchin and paid $2.40 to win.
The first Open Pace was the 6th race where Venturesome Arden N (Captaintreacherous) and driver Jordan Stratton were able to lead from start to finish, winning by one and one-quarter lengths over the pocket-sitting race favorite, Pleaseletmeknow (Matt Kakaley).
Third place finisher Mamba (Mark MacDonald) was parked out first-over from before the half mile. Venturesome Arden N covered the mile in 1:52.4 for his second straight win and ninth victory of the year. The five-year-old gelding is trained and owned by Ricky Bucci and paid $5.80 to win.
VENTURESOME ARDEN N REPLAY
The second Open Pace was the 8th race and Racing Rampage (Racing Hill) pulled off a mild upset at odds of 6-1 from post seven for driver Matt Kakaley.
Leaving from the start, Kakaley sent Racing Rampage out of the gate and was able to get the two-hole trip behind Dunkin’ (Jim Marohn, Jr. Dunkin’ then cut the mile with no real challenges until the stretch when Kakaley sent Racing Rampage after the pacesetting and caught them at the wire to win by a neck in 1:52. Birthday (George Brennan) was third.
It was just last week that Racing Rampage lost by a nose to Act Fast in the $100,000 Myron Charma Invitational at Northfield Park. Monday’s victory was number six on the year for the four-year-old gelding. He is trained by Travis Alexander for Darren Dowler and Lawrence Bettler and paid $15.40 to win.
RACING RAMPAGE REPLAY
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink
