Yonkers hosts two $36,000 Opens Thursday

Both pacers and trotters shared the harness racing limelight at Yonkers Raceway Thursday (Sept. 28) with a pair of $36,000 Opens held over a good track with a one-second allowance.

First up was the Open Pace for 3-5-Year-Olds in the 2^nd race where 5-1 Simon Says Hanover (Captaintreacherous) and driver Daniel Dube had no issues with the off track as they wired the field.

Starting from post five, Dube sent Simon Says Hanover out front and by the opening quarter mile he was up by three lengths on the field in :26.2.

With no one pulling on the right line, Simon Says Hanover led to the half mile in :55. Then it was Luckbewithalex (Jordan Stratton) coming first-over in the backstretch but was unable to gain any ground on Simon Says Hanover past the three-quarters in 1:22.2.

It was home free from there as Simon Says Hanover lead by four and one-half lengths off the final turn and then breezed to the wire with a five and one-quarter length romp in 1:50.2. Southwind Petyr (Tyler Buter) was second with JM’s Finaltreasure (George Brennan) third.

SIMON SAYS HANOVER REPLAY

It was the second straight win and seventh triumph on the year for Simon Says Hanover. The five-year-old gelding is trained by Jared Bako for owner Randy Zane and paid $13.60 to win.

Then in the 6^th race Open Handicap Trot, it was all Nows The Moment (Credit Winner) and Austin Siegelman as they went down the road too but not as easily as Simon Says Hanover.

Leaving from post four, Siegelman put race favorite Nows The Moment on the lead from the start with Hl Revadon (George Brennan) leaving from post eight and getting the two-hole trip. They went by the quarter in :27.3.

Pappardelle (Tyler Buter) was on the outside from the start, and they started to pressure Nows The Moment to the half mile in :56.4. Pappardelle would not go away but was not gaining on Nows The Moment to the three-quarters in 1:25.1.

Then Nows The Moment created some separation by the top of the stretch and coasted home to win by one length in 1:54.3. Pappardelle held for second place with Eurobond (Jordan Stratton) third.

NOWS THE MOMENT REPLAY

It was the second straight win and eighth victory of the year for Nows The Moment. The eight-year-old gelding is trained by Mr. Allison Mac Donald for owner Sonya Mac Donald and paid $2.70 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink