Favorites take Yonkers top trotting classes

The top trotting harness racing classes were contested at Yonkers Raceway Thursday night (January 25th) and they produced one excitingly close finish and a dominating win.

In the $35,000 Invitational Trot, Now’s The Moment (Credit Winner) won a final quarter war and refused to lose, battling back late to take a nose decision over a game Credit Con (Joe Bongiorno).

After taking over the lead before reaching the opening quarter, timed in :27.3, the Austin Siegelman guided six-year-old gelding Now’s The Moment continued on the front through an unstressed :56.4 half.

The six-to-five favorite stepped up the pace to the three quarters as he would face a stern challenge from pocket popping Credit Con with Royalty Beer (Pat Lachance) lurking in third watching the intense battle and waiting to pounce. Hat Trick Marleau (George Brennan) followed along in an unthreatening fourth several lengths back while early breaker Warrior One toiled in last.

Credit Con got on even terms at the three quarter pole which was reached in 1:25.3 and he briefly appeared to be going the better of the two trotters, but Siegleman coaxed just enough out of Now’s The Moment to preserve a 1:54.4 head victory.

Royalty Beer held third, three-quarters of a length back, with Hat Trick Marleau checking in fourth and Warrior One taking home the final check.

NOW’S THE MOMENT REPLAY

Now’s The Moment took his 45th lifetime win in his 134th start and the Allison Macdonald trainee bumped his lifetime earning to just over $760,000 in winning this first start of 2024. He is owned by Sally Macdonald of Maine.

The $32,000 Fillies and Mares Open Trot was less dramatic with heavy 1 to 9 favorite Helpoftheseason (Helpisontheway) leaving no doubt, dominating her four overmatched rivals.

The four-year-old Per Engblom trainee came into the race looking for her third straight win at Yonkers in the top class for trotting females after capping off an excellent sophomore season with two front end scores in December.

Driver Jason Bartlett’s strategy was unchanged as he signaled his intent early blasting off from the widest post, and Helpoftheseason made front prior to clicking off a :28.2 opening quarter with Queen Of All (Matt Kakaley) following along in second, and No Turning Back (Yannick Gingras) sitting third. Cleopatra AS (Jordan Stratton) and Deswanslittlelorie (Joseph Chindano Jr.) raced fourth and fifth, respectively.

Positions were unchanged through a :57.4 opening half and as the field approached the three-eighths pole Deswanslittlelorie started a move which flushed No Turning Back out of third. Neither of these moves would up to much though as Helpoftheseason had already kicked into high gear and was opening up an insurmountable lead.

She powered through the three quarters in 1:27.3 and cruised through the lane to a seven-length 1:57.2 score. Her four rivals hit the wire in a blanket finish and No Turning Back outgamed the other three to get second ahead of Deswanslittlelorie with Queen Of All taking fourth money.

HELPOFTHESEASON REPLAY

Helpoftheseason, who returned $2.30 to win, took her 13th win in her 28th start. She earned $16,000 for owners John Schmucker-Running Wild Stables and Grabill-Hickory Hollow Stables of Indiana. She raised her lifetime earnings to just under $460,000.

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

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink