A second-tier Bioness (Brian Sears, $33.80) made one decisive move on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 2), winning the $120,000 final of Yonkers Raceway’s French-American Trotting Club Series.
The finale, wrapping a four-race series for imported French-breds, went at the mile and a half and the first of the four added-distance races.
Away sixth (fifth after a breaker) from post position No. 9, Bioness made the lead from 47-1 Adagio De La Tour (Jason Bartlett) between the :28.3 opening quarter-mile and the :59.1 half.
He then fought off Uhlan Noir (Brent Holland), with Deo (George Brennan) wide behind that one. While this was going on, 6-5 favourite Versachet (Jordan Stratton) found himself going wide to nowhere, while second choice Ursis Des Caillons (Joe Bongiorno) was done in by an early break.
After subsequent substations of 1:28.3, 1:58 and 2:28, Bioness opened to three lengths into the lane.
Though tiring, Bioness did hold sway over a handful of pursuers, winning by a length in 2:58. Adagio De La Tour (Jason Bartlett) closed from a loose pocket and wound up second, with Alpha DUrzy (Louis-Philippe Roy) third. Ursis Des Caillions did recover for fourth, with first leader Barry Black (Austin Siegelman) lasting for the last pay envelope.
For fifth choice Bioness, a seven-year-old Sam Bourbon gelding owned by Northfork Racing Stable and trained by Chris Oakes, the win was his third in 13 seasonal starts (a second and two thirds in series prelims). The exacta paid $1,004, the triple returned $6,978 and the superfecta paid $43,653 (base $2 payout).
The week’s $44,000 Open Handicap Trot, at the old-fashioned flat mile, was won by down-the-road Obrigado (Mark MacDonald, $5.90) in 1:55.2.
Sunday’s final-for-a-while summer stock presentation of the ‘New York, New York Double’ featured a winning combination of 4-Ruler of the Nile (Saratoga’s 1st race) and 6-Lord Cromwell (Yonkers’ 3rd race), returning $18.70 for every correct $1 ticket. Total pool was $7,490.
The next Sunday matinee is November 4 (post time TBA).
Note that the Raceway is dark for live racing Monday and Tuesday nights (Sept. 3 and 4), returning Thursday night (Sept. 6), with the evening norm first post of 6:50 p.m.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)