The limelight belonged to the trotters at Yonkers Raceway Thursday (March 28) as the hilltop harness racing half mile oval held two $35,000 Invitational Trots. It was a rainy night, sloppy track and a two second allowance.
First up was the 2nd race Invitational for the horses and it was Royalty Beer (Pat Lachance) who went right to the early lead with P L Oscar (Brent Holland) grabbing the two-hole trip as they went to the first quarter in :27.3.
Royalty Beer and Lachance were able to control the lead to the half mile in :57.2 with no challenge until the backstretch when driver Matt Kakaley came first-over with the 5-1 I Get It (Dontyouforgetit) as Tipsy Moni (Jason Bartlett) came second-over. They passed the three-quarters in 1:26.1.
Around the final turn and it was still Royalty Beer on the lead with I Get It now in second and challenging at the top of the stretch. Down the stretch it was I Get It coming on to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56 with the late closing Pappardelle (Joe Bongiorno) edging out Royalty Beer for second place.
I GET IT REPLAY
It was this third win of the season for I Get It. The eight-year-old gelding is trained by Scott Di Domencio for the Triple D Stables and Michael Rekoon. He paid $12.00 to win.
Then in the 8th race it was the Fillies and Mares Invitational Trot where Queen Of All (Swan For All) and driver Austin Siegelman were able to wire the field.
Lady Jeter (Brent Holland) got to the front first off the gate and gave way to Queen Of All, who wanted the front. She cleared after the first quarter in :27.2 while race favorite Helpoftheseason (Jason Bartlett) had to back off from the outside into third.
Queen Of All had things her way to the half mile in :57.2 with only No Mas Drama (Joe Bongiorno) on the outside in fifth place. Then in the backstretch, Helpoftheseason came back first-over, but was unable to gain on the race leader as Queen Of All trotted by the three-quarters in 1:27.
Around the final turn and down the stretch, Queen Of All and Siegelman held the field at bay, winning over the sloppy oval in 1:57.2 by one and one-quarter lengths. Pocket-sitting Lady Jeter was second with Call Me Dani (Matt Kakaley) third.
QUEEN OF ALL REPLAY
It was the second win of the season for Queen Of All. The six-year-old mare is trained by Lance Hudson for owner William Hartt and paid $12.20 to win.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink