Repeat winner in $36,000 Open at Yonkers

For the second week in a row, Backstreet Shadow (Shadow Play) proved to be the best at the hilltop, winning the $36,000 Open Pace Monday (Aug. 28) at Yonkers Raceway.

The 9^th race feature first saw Whats Stanley Got A and driver Jordan Stratton use the rail starting post to scoot out to the early lead with Hickfromfrenchlick (Jim Marohn, Jr.) grabbing the two-hole spot and getting away third was the race favorite Backstreet Shadow and driver Matt Kakaley.

They raced to the opening quarter mile in :26.4 and Whats Stanley Got A continued to the lead the way as the field of seven raced single file past the half mile marker in :55.3.

That was when Kakaley took Backstreet Shadow to the outside first-over with Lou’s Sweetrevenge (Joe Bongiorno) second-over. Approaching the three-quarters, Stratton pulled the ear plugs on Whats Stanley Got A and they were able to keep Backstreet Shadow from taking the lead at the three-quarters in 1:22.4.

Around the final turn, Backstreet Shadow had the lead but could not clear by Whats Stanley Got A until they started down the stretch. That was when Backstreet Shadow took command of the race and went on to win by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:50.3. Whats Stanley Got A and Leonidas A (Austin Siegelman) finished in a deadheat for second place with Lou’s Sweet Revenge fourth.

BACKSTREET SHADOW REPLAY

It was the second straight win and ninth victory of the year for Backstreet Shadow. The eight-year-old gelding is trained by Travis Alexander for owner Robert D’Nozzi of Katonah, NY and paid $3.10 to win.

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

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink