Three strong $36,000 Open Pace fields battle at Yonkers

Yonkers Raceway was loaded with Open harness racing events for trotters and pacers with three $36,000 Opens on the Thursday (May 11) night program.

The Daily Double comprised of two Opens.

The 1^st race saw 3.90-1 Greg The Leg (Huntsville) get a perfect two-hole trip from driver Joe Bongiorno to score in the $36,000 Open Pace for 3-5-year-olds.

15-1 Kootenay Santanna and driver Yannick Gingras battled with Greg The Leg from the start, getting parked out to the opening quarter mile in :27.2. The field then raced single file to the half mile in :56.2.

With Kootenay Santanna cutting the mile and Greg The Leg enjoying the two-hole trip, Kingsville (Andy Miller) then came first-over into the backstretch and was in third place on the outside as they passed the three-quarters in 1:24.

Then in the stretch, Greg The Leg closed with a :28 last quarter to beat Kootenay Santanna by a half a length in 1:52.1. Caviart Sargent (Jordan Stratton) was third.

GREG THE LEG REPLAY

It was the fifth win of the year for Greg The Leg. The four-year-old gelding is trained by Per Engblom for owner Brian Gordon and paid $9.80 to win.

The second half of the Daily Double was the $36,000 Filly & Mare Open-Handicap Trot where a very game Hey Livvy (Donato Hanover) and driver Jordan Stratton was able to edge No Mas Drama in a photo finish.

Grey and driver George Brennan were first on the lead at the start of the 2^nd race, leading to the first quarter in :28 with I Da Princess (Yannick Gingras) sitting second.

Race favorite No Mas Drama (Joe Bongiorno) then came first-over with Hey Livvy grabbing the second-over trip. By the half mile in :57.3, No Mas Drama was in second place battling Grey for the lead. Grey dug in but by the three-quarters in 1:25.3. No Mas Drama was taking the lead, leaving Hey Livvy first-over.

At the top of the stretch, No Mas Drama opened up to a two and one-quarter length lead, but Hey Livvy still had something to say, gunning down No Mas Drama at the wire to win by a nose in 1:54. Grey was third.

HEY LIVVY REPLAY

It was the second straight win and fourth victory of the season for Hey Livvy. The eight-year-old mare, trained by Jeff Gillis, is co-owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock, Inc., Trevor Henry, Ellen Ott and Jeff Gillis. She paid $4.00 to win and the $1 Open Daily Double paid $17.40.

The third of the $36,000 Opens was the 8^th race Open Trot where Credit Con (Credit Winner) was also given a perfect two-hole drive to the winner’s circle.

Highland Mowgli and driver George Brennan were first on the lead from post five as Credit Con left from post four and grabbed the two-hole trip to the quarter in :27.2.

The field raced single file to the half in :57.1, the three-quarters in 1:25.4, never a move by anyone at the top of the stretch.

Then it was time for Credit Con to come after Highland Mowgli and just get by him and also hold off race favorite Mississippi Storm (Jordan Stratton) to win by a half a length in 1:54.2. Mississippi Storm edged Highland Mowgli for second place by a nose.

CREDIT CON REPLAY

It was the third win on the season for the five-year-old gelding. Credit Con is trained by Joe’s sister Jenn Bongiorno for Ben Mondello and paid $8.40 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink