Photo finish camera needed in Open Pace

It took the photo finish camera to declare the harness racing winner of the $36,000 Open Pace for 3-5 year-olds Thursday (April 20) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Race favorite Take A Gamble (Bettor’s Delight) and driver Scott Zeron were parked out by Seth Hanover (Austin Siegelman) until past the quarter mile in :27.1. Once on the lead, Take A Gamble control the pace to the half mile in :55.3.

Then in the backstretch Joe Bongiorno came first-over from third with Southwind Petyr and brushed right up to be neck and neck with Take A Gamble at the three-quarters in 1:23.2.

From there the battle continued with Take A Gamble holding a slight edge over Southwind Petyr around the final turn and in a classic stretch drive to the wire, Take A Gamble looked to be the winner until Southwind Petyr came back as the two horses were nearly inseparable at the finish wire in 1:51.1

Once the photo finish was viewed by the judges, Take A Gamble was declared the winner by a long nose over Southwind Petyr with Seth Hanover third.

TAKE A GAMBLE REPLAY

It was the fourth straight win and sixth of the season in ten starts for Take A Gamble. The five-year-old gelding is trained by Jared Bako for owner Stephen Klunowski. He paid $2.70 to win.

In the 3^rd race $36,000 co-feature Open-Handicap Trot, Hillexotic (Muscle Hill) and driver Yannick Gingras took no prisoners in wiring the field.

Race favorite Hillexotic made the most of starting from the rail, shooting right to the early lead with Nows The Moment (Austin Siegelman) leaving from post seven and grabbing the two-hole spot.

Hillexotic cut fractions of :27.4 and :57 before No Mas Drama (Jim Marohn, Jr.) came first-over but could not gain any ground on Hillexotic past the three-quarters in 1:25.

Hillexotic and Gingras held the field at the by the top of the stretch and held it all together in the stretch to win by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:53.2. Nows The Moment was second with No Mas Drama third.

HILLEXOTIC REPLAY

It was the seconds straight win for Hillexotic. The six-year-old gelding is trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura. He paid $3.10 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink