All Class looks to keep streak alive at Yonkers

A competitive field of seven top pacers line up for tonight’s harness racing feature at Yonkers Raceway, and Harrah’s Philadelphia invader All Class (Heston Blue Chip) looks to run his win streak to three in the $32,000 Open Pace for three- to five-year-olds.

If the sophomore Per Engblom trainee is going to keep that streak alive, he will need to beat a salty six pack of his elders tonight.

Leaving from post three, Jason Bartlett will steer the Pennsylvania-bred colt who comes into this race off two front-stepping scores over upper conditioned rivals at Harrah’s Philly. He is a winner of three of his last four, the lone loss coming in the slop on November 10th in a race where he was beaten 1 1/2 lengths after setting a fast pace in a race that was timed in a snappy 1:50.3.

The 5 to 2 morning line favorite looks to add $16,000 to the $131,651 he has already earned in 2023 for owner Morrison Racing Stable of Indiana, Pennsylvania on the strength of a 7-7-2 record from 22 starts.

The horse to beat will likely be the morning line second choice, Greg The Leg (Huntsville) who was a game winner in this class last week and finished in the top two in five consecutive starts at the Open level at Yonkers dating back to October 25th.

The Michael Forte trainee has built an impressive resume this year, winning 13 times in 36 starts with 11 runner-up finishes and one third, good for earnings of close to $259,000 for Lester Gelardi Jr. of Palm Beach, Florida. The four-year-old gelding has shown grit winning regularly racing on the lead or from first-over. Regular pilot Brent Holland will look to steer Greg The Leg to his 14th win of the year.

Regular Yonkers winner Simon Says Hanover (Captaintreacherous) returns from Harrah’s Philadelphia and he gets assigned the widest post on the strength of three wins and a second in his last four tries at this level. In September and October, the Jared Bako pupil won three straight at the top class, the third win in the streak being a 1:49 4/5 lifetime-best score with Dan Dube in the bike.

In his most recent Yonkers start on November 20th, Simon Says Hanover closed from seventh at the top of the stretch to finish second, 1 3/4 lengths behind 2 to 5 favorite Hellabalou. Simon Says Hanover will look to notch his 10th win in his 22nd start this year and add to the $137,734 in earnings that he has already amassed for owner Randy Zane of Laval, Quebec.

An interesting potential price play starts from the rail in 8 to 1 morning line choice Twin B Heart Throb (Betterthancheddar) who gets the ultimate post relief tonight moving from the eight hole to the rail. The Jeff Cullipher trainee was a winner in two straight Yonkers conditioned races in late October and early November before winning one of two starts in the top class at Freehold Raceway. Jordan Stratton will likely put the five-year-old gelding in play early and get at least a check for Pollack Racing LLC of Venetia, Pennsylvania.

Here is the full field for the one-mile dash, set to go as Race eight on the 11-race card, approximate post time 9:20 p.m. Eastern.

1. Twin B Heart Throb (Jordan Stratton) 8-1

2. Red Right Hand (Mark Macdonald) 8-1

3. All Class (Jason Bartlett) 5-2

4. Sporty M Three (George Brennan) 6-1

5. Greg The Leg (Brent Holland) 4-1

6. Pleaseletmeknow (Matt Kakaley) 3-1

7. Simon Says Hanover (Daniel Dube) 6-1

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink