Eight-holers The Real One (drawn) and Luminosity (assigned) both overcame their obstacles Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-features.
The Real One (Pat Lachance, $37.80) prevailed in the $75,000 Open Handicap Pace, which doubled as the Marvin Kaufman Memorial. It was The Real One catching a live ride behind Flem N Em N (Jason Bartlett, five winners during the 12-race card), then storming by.
The Real One defeated a tough-trip-but-resurgent Domethatagain (Dan Dube) by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:52.3, with Flem N Em N, Rock On Moe (Jordan Stratton) and Sky is the Limit (Eric Goodell) settling for the remainder.
The 13-10 choice, MrErlean (Tyler Buter), broke early -- bothering Domethatagain -- and finished sixth.
For seventh choice The Real One, a five-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by his driver for owner Helene Filion, it was his fourth win (second consecutive) in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $238, with the triple returning $889.
The race was named for Marvin Kaufman, a longtime standardbred owner and SOA of New York director who passed away in January. He family and friends were on-hand to make the winner’s circle presentation.
Luminosity (George Brennan, $4.90), as the 7-5 favourite, made it four wins in his last five tries by handily taking the $42,000 marquee trot in 1:55.3. Rock Of Cashel (Goodell) was second-up and second home, beaten a length-and-a-half, with Somebody As (Dube), E R Ellie (Stratton) and Crazy About Pat (Mark MacDonald) completing the cashers.
For Luminosity, a five-year-old Cash Hall gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi, it was his eighth win in 18 seasonal tries. The exacta paid $49.20, with the triple returning $212.
Yonkers live harness racing season continues Monday night (7:10 p.m.).
(with files from Yonkers)