Champagne On Ice uncorks big upset

Champagne On Ice rallied past six harness racing opponents in the final quarter of a mile on Friday at Yonkers Raceway to take the $36,000 feature trot at 26-1.

Joe Bongiorno, looking for his third win of the night, laid off the early speed and dropped Champagne On Ice back to seventh, maintaining his starting position. Patriarch Hanover (George Brennan) sprinted to the front and laid down :27.3 and :57.3 opening fractions.

Champagne On Ice moved off the pylons and trotted furiously to catch her cover, the second-over Bully Boy (Tyler Buter), as they neared three-quarters in 1:26.2. Champagne On Ice made little use of the draft, though, as she swung three-wide on the final turn and quickly put horses behind her. New Heaven (Jim Marohn Jr.) took the lead in mid-stretch, but Champagne On Ice closed him down and surged past at the finish under frantic urging from Bongiorno to win in 1:55.1.

New Heaven’s margin of defeat was a neck. Bully Boy finished third.

CHAMPAGNE ON ICE REPLAY

Jennifer Bongiorno trains Champagne On Ice for Kat Stables LLC. of Leo. The four-year-old daughter of Triumphant Caviar has won 13 of her 45 lifetime outings and has brought in $143,549.

The first race of the program was called a no contest after a chain reaction of incidents caused the field to scatter. Leader General Joy A took some bad steps on the second turn and required correction from driver George Brennan, which caused pocket-sitter Deerfield Beach (Austin Siegelman) to break stride. Those two hooked wheels as the former slowed abruptly, and Nihilated Truth (Jordan Stratton) went wide to avoid a collision.

Roll With Fred (Tyler Buter) broke stride from fourth when the leader’s miscue backed up the entire field, which caused Raksmach N (Marohn Jr.) to go wide and make contact with Wild West (Luke Hanners). He was narrowly avoided by Constntlysidewys A due to a quick reaction by Bongiorno. Raksmach N piled into the back of the tangled leaders but stopped in time to avoid a fall. Ari Allstar (Jason Bartlett) slowed and drifted to the outer rail to avoid the incident.

All horses remained upright, and all drivers stayed in their sulkies throughout. Nihilated Truth and Wild West raced to the finish with Raksmach and Deerfield Beach well behind, while all other horses pulled up. Nihilated Truth crossed the finish line first, followed by Wild West, Raksmach, and Deerfield Beach, but the judges ruled the race a no contest after about five minutes of deliberation.

RACE ONE REPLAY

Bongiorno collected another win after scoring in the feature, completing a grand slam.

Racing at Yonkers Raceway returns on Monday, Aug. 9 with 12 dashes beginning at 7:15 p.m. EDT

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink