Open Trots contested at Yonkers Raceway

The Open Trots for both harness racing genders were contested at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday night (December 14), one producing a thrilling blanket finish, the other a blowout win by an impressive sophomore filly.

Credit Con (Credit Winner), cleverly handled by driver Joe Bongiorno, rallied along the pylons to get up to score the upset, grabbing a nose victory right on the wire in the $32,000 Open Trot in an exciting dash where the top four finishers were only a half length apart at the wire.

Bongiorno was intent on getting position leaving the gate but so were the two rivals lined up to his outside. Now’s The Moment (Jordan Stratton) drove to the front with Warrior One (Yannick Gingras) in pursuit and Herodotus (Jason Bartlett) pushing the rail.

Credit Con settled in third while Warrior One led past the :27.4 opening quarter. There were no moves in a :29 4/5 second stanza as the half was reached in :57.4, but the action would soon heat up.

Stratton popped the pocket with 6 to 5 favorite Now’s The Moment heading down the backstretch for the final time and he and Warrior One engaged in a battle to the three-quarters. Royalty Beer (Pat Lachance) moved second-over and Bongiorno slid Credit Con into the pocket as the three quarters was trotted in 1:26.2.

Down the lane, Warrior One fought bravely to fend off the outside challengers while Bongiorno dove to the inside with Credit Con. Those two battled to the wire and Credit Con was the fresher of the two and prevailed for the nose victory in 1:56.0. It was a neck back to Royalty Beer in third and he was a head in front of Now’s The Moment.

CREDIT CON REPLAY

Credit Con, trained by Jenn Bongiorno, won for the eighth time in his 26th start this year and he boosted his earnings lifetime to more than $741,000 for owner Ben Mondello of Florida. He paid $18.80 to win.

The $32,000 Fillies and Mares Open Trot was less eventful, with 1 to 2 favorite Helpoftheseason (Helpisontheway) taking over the lead passing the quarter and never looking back on her way to a blowout 1:56.2 win.

Driver Jason Bartlett fired Helpoftheseason off the gate but Smashing Raquets (Yannick Gingras) was quicker and led through the opening turn. Helpoftheseason soon took over command, and the only two sophomores in the field of seven raced 1-2 through the :28.2 opening quarter and :58.0 half with no movement from the backfield.

Heading to three quarters, Abbey D (George Brennan) tried it first up, providing cover to Andover Contessa (Jordan Stratton). But neither would be able to sustain their bids. Bartlett stepped on the accelerator on the final turn and quickly grabbed three lengths on her rivals.

Down the lane, the only question to be answered was who would fill the bottom of the exotic wagers because Helpoftheseason was long gone. What Should I Goo (Joe Bongiorno) circled up from last and trotted to a clear second, three lengths behind the winner. It was another couple of lengths back to Lady Jeter (Brent Holland) in third, a head in front of first leader Smashin Raquets.

HELPOFTHESEASON REPLAY

In beating her elders, Helpoftheseason was sent out to her seventh win in her 19th 2023 start by Yonkers leading trainer Per Engblom. He has now earned more than $427,000 for owners John Shcmuker, and Wrenn Racing LLC, both of Indiana. She paid $3.10 to win.

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

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink