Yonkers kicks off with pair of $36,000 dashes

Yonkers Raceway held co-open harness racing events, both for purses of $36,000, on Thursday (April 13) as the Daily Double on the race card.

The 1st race was the 3-5 Year-Old Open Pace that saw Great Somewhere (Brent Holland) take the early lead with race favorite Certifiable (Jason Bartlett) grabbing the two-hole spot as they passed the opening quarter mile in :27.

They continued to race single file to the half mile in :55.3 before Scott Zeron took Take A Gamble (Bettor’s Delight) first-over from third place and was able to collar Great Somewhere at the three-quarters in 1:23.1.

Getting by Take A Gamble on the final turn, Zeron let Take A Gamble have his head and he tore off down the stretch, winning by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:50.4. Pleaseletmeknow (Jordan Stratton) was second with Certifiable third.

TAKE A GAMBLE REPLAY

It was the third straight win and fifth of the season for Take A Gamble. The five-year-old gelding is trained by Jared Bako for owner Stephen Klunowski. He paid $5.80 to win.

The second half of the daily double was the $36,000 Open Handicap Trot.

Race favorite Hey Livvy (Jordan Stratton) took the early lead away from Nows The Moment (Credit Winner) and driver Austin Siegelman at the opening quarter in :27.2.

They continued to race single file with Hey Livvy cutting the mile to the half in :56.3 and the three-quarters in 1:25.4. Only Nows The Moment could stay close to Hey Livvy and by the top of the stretch came after the leaders and blew by them to win by three and one-half lengths in 1:54.2. B Nicking (George Brennan) was second with Hey Livvy third.

NOWS THE MOMENT REPLAY

It was the fifth win this year for Nows The Moment. The eight-year-old gelding is trained by Mr Allison Mac Donald for owner Sonya Mac Donald. He paid $6.90 to win.

The Daily Double of 1-5 paid $25.30 for a $2 wager.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink