Nandolo N gets the call in Yonkers Invitational

Nandolo N (Betterthencheddar) heads a talented harness racing quintet lined up to contest the Monday night (March 11th) $35,000 Yonkers Raceway Invitational Pace.

The altered 10-year-old Shane Tritton trainee comes off a strong effort at the same level where he raced first up chasing Yonkers king Covered Bridge, who is absent from this class this week.

It could be argued that Nandolo N was best that night when you consider he paced identical :27.1 third and fourth quarters in defeat, eventually grudgingly losing second, but finishing a bang-up third, beaten only a length to Covered Bridge. Regular driver Jason Bartlett takes the lines, and he will likely get more aggressive leaving from the outside post. Nandolo N, who makes his fourth start of 2024, has been installed as the 9 to 5 morning line favorite.

Lining up to Nandolo N’s left will be millionaire Semi Tough (Somebeachsomewhere), who comes into this race as sharp as can be.

The eight-year-old Mickey Burke trained gelding has won three straight at the hilltop oval, most recently beating a good non-winners of $30,000 last five field by two lengths in a sharp 1:52.3.

Yannick Gingras engineered the three wins deploying different tactics for each victory, winning on the lead, from the pocket and rallying from behind. This 36-time winner’s speed and versatility makes him a prime contender in this edition of the Invitational. Semi Tough is the 2 to 1 second choice.

On paper, these two should battle for the win, but there are three other racehorses that will have a say in the outcome.

Starting from post three and making his 2024 debut will be the five-year old gelding Pleaseletmeknow (American Ideal).

The Travis Alexander trainee comes into this seasonal bow off two winning qualifiers taken over off tracks at Pocono Downs, the most recent a 1:53.3 score over a good track that featured a :27.2 kicker.

A winner of 17 of 42 starts and more than $692,000 in earnings, Pleaseletmeknow won twice at the three to five-year-old Open level at Yonkers last November. He will be driven by regular teamster Matt Kakaley, and he is 9 to 2 in the morning line.

Moving one more post inside, Sonny Weaver N (Sunshine Beach) leaves from post two with George Brennan at the controls. The eight-year-old gelded Jeff Culipher pupil has won two of five starts this year and he was only 1 1/2 lengths behind Nandolo N last Monday. He looks to boost his career earnings of $518,000.

Starting from the rail will be Hemsworth N (Sweet Lou). The Jared Bako trainee is certainly no stranger to the winner’s circle. He boasts a record of 20 wins from 62 starts, with seven seconds and seven thirds and $283,000 in earnings.

Last September, Hemsworth N took his 1:50.1 lifetime mark at Yonkers, one of his five victories on the year. Joe Bongiorno takes over for regular driver Kakaley who opted for Pleaseletmeknow.

Here is the field for the Invitational Pace, that goes as race nine on the 12-race card and is scheduled to go at 9:40 p.m. Eastern.

1. Hemsworth N – Joe Bongiorno – 6 to 1

2. Sonny Weaver N – George Brennan – 7 to 2

3. Pleaseletmeknow – Matt Kakaley – 9 to 2

4. Semi Tough – Yannick Gingras – 2 to 1

5. Nandolo N – Jason Bartlett – 9 to 5

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink