Rockn Philly downs favorites in Yonkers Open

Rockn Philly, sent off as the longest shot on the board at 19-1, rallied to a harness racing upset win in Thursday night’s (February 24) $39,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Yonkers Raceway and was the key to the Pick 5 not being hit.

With Tyler Buter catch-driving for the absent Scott Zeron, Rockn Philly raced on the inside in the fifth position and watched as first Lit De Rose, piloted by trainer Pat Lachance, and then Karma Seelster, the even-money favorite steered by Jordan Stratton, showed the way.

Karma Seelster took charge passing the 27.2 opening quarter and then backed down the tempo to 57 seconds at the half and 1:25 at three-quarters. Despite the well-rated pace, Karma Seelster was swarmed in the lane, with Racine Bell and driver Jason Bartlett going wide from second-over and Rockn Philly sticking to the pylons.

At the wire it was Rockn Philly who prevailed by a nose over Racine Bell, with Karma Seelster just a head back in third.

A 6-year-old daughter of A Rocknroll Dance, Rockn Philly is now a 24-time winner, and she has now pocketed $488,391. Trained by Noel Daley for owners Matthew Morrison and Brian Gordon, Rockn Philly paid $41.60 to win and led a $302 exacta and a $709 trifecta.

That was the only serious surprise in Thursday night’s Pick 5, but it was enough to end up with four-of-five the best anybody could do in the sequence. As a result, when racing concludes for the week at Yonkers on Friday night (February 25), there will be a $9,197.53 carryover and a $25,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick 5. Additionally, the Pick 6 will have a carryover totaling $1,382.09

The guarantee in the Pick 5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick 5, courtesy of TrackMaster, will be available here.  The Pick 5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20 percent.

Friday night’s nine-race program, which is headlined by a $39,000 Open Handicap Trot, begins at 6:55 p.m.