A new millionaire crowned at Yonkers

Hillexotic (Muscle Hill) joined the harness racing millionaire club with flair, easily winning the featured $35,000 Yonkers Raceway Invitational Trot Thursday night (April 25th).

Needing only $2,429 to join the magic million club, the seven-year-old gelded Ron Burke trainee left no doubt, taking control after the first eighth of a mile and never facing a serious challenge from there on his way to his 27th win in his 68th start.

Coming off a victory in the same class last week in his 2024 debut, Hillexotic led unstressed through opening fractions of :28.1 and :57.3 with his five rivals content to follow. Texsong Soprano (Scott Zeron) was first to move at the three eighths pole and he made it up to second as Hillexotic passed three quarters in 1:26.2.

At that point, Gingras had opened up a couple of lengths with the leader. Hillexotic, while under no late urging, produced a 28.3 kicker to come home a two-length winner in 1:55.0. Swan In Motion (Jason Bartlett), who followed Texsong Soprano to the lane, closed down the middle of the track to get second, a neck ahead of pocket sitter I Get It (Matt Kakaley), who shaded Texsong Soprano for third.

HILLEXOTIC REPLAY

Hillexotic took his second win in as many 2024 starts for owners Burke Racing Stable Llc, Weaver Bruscemi Llc and Phillip Collura, all of Pennsylvania. He has now earned just over $1.015 million. He returned $2.60 as the favorite and combined with Swan In Motion for a $17.40 exacta.

Weaver said that Hillexotic stacks up well in the 2024 aged trotting ranks.

“Hillexotic is the perfect horse,” he said. “He’s earned six figures every year he’s raced, and he can do it on any track. We staked him up to everything this year. We think he fits with the best trotters in North America.”

Gingras completed a Thursday night sweep in the top classes guiding Tipsy Moni (International Moni) to a dominant bounce back victory in the $35,000 Fillies and Mares Invitational Trot.

Coming in off a rare break in stride last week, the four-year-old Per Engblom trainee made no mistakes in taking a 4 1/4 length 1:55.0 win.

Tipsy Moni was outsprinted early by Perfect Vixen, who used her rail post to advantage going into the first turn. Last week’s winner in this class, P L Notsonice (Scott Zeron) also had designs on the lead but was forced to abort that move when Tipsy Moni drove between horses to head to the front. Gingras idled Tipsy Moni through a soft :58.0 opening half which turned the race into mission impossible for her six rivals.

With P L Notsonice laboring racing first-over, Gingras opened three lengths on the field at the 1:26.4 three quarters. She then kicked even further clear by trotting a :28.0 final quarter. P L Notsonice gamely held second, three quarters of a length in front of Perfect Vixen. It was another half-length back to Ima Diamond Babe (Braxten Boyd).

TIPSY MONI REPLAY

Tipsy Moni took her sixth win in her 10th start this year for Gingras of New Jersey, who co-owns with Ben Mondello of Florida and Fac Racing Llc of Florida. The win pushed her lifetime earnings just over the $340,000 mark. She paid $3.30 as the public’s choice and combined with P L Notsonice for a $6.90 exacta payoff.

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

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink