Driver George Brennan swept Yonkers Raceway's usual Friday night pair of $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps--for distaff pacers and both-genders-allowed trotters-- with odds-on Royal Cee Cee N and just-above-even-money Arriba Amigo.
Assigned penultimate post position No. 7, Royal Cee Cee N ($2.80) had to wait her turn early. Four-deep in the first turn, she eventually made the lead around Keepers Destiny (Jim Pantaleano) just after a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.
From there, it was a soft :29.2 second interval (:56.3 half) before Naughtytiltheend (Brent Holland) tried it first-up. That one could never come close in and out of the 1:24.4 three-quarters, with 'Cee Cee' taking a length and three-quarter lead into the lane.
She needed only to hold off the loose pocket-sitter, which she did by that same margin in 1:52.3. Rock N Soul (Jason Bartlett), last week's victress and this week's eight-hole beginner, rallied for third, with Naughtytiltheend and Hulas Z Tam (Pat Lachance) completing the cashers.
For Royal Cee Cee N, a six-year-old Down Under daughter of Christian Cullen owned and trained by Mark Harder, it was her seventh win (second consecutive since hitting town) in 22 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $13.80, with the triple returning $63.
Ontario-sired Arriba Amigo ($4.30) kept the roll going, making it six wins in succession and four-for-four in Westchester.
Leaving from post No. 6, Arriba Amigo was immediately in play. He went up and over Master Pine (Pantaleano) and gave nothing else a chance (:27.4, :57.2, 1:26.1, 1:55.2). The final margin was two and a quarter lengths, with KLM Express (Jim Marshall III) holding off Big Sky Storm (Jordan Stratton) for second. Bastille (Cat Manzi) and Master Pine grabbed the minor spoils.
For Arriba Amigo, a five-year-old Amigo Hall gelding co-owned by trainer Josh Green, David Rovine and VIP Internet Stable, it was his seventh win in 19 '12 tries. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $23.20, the triple returned $111.50 and the superfecta paid $509.
Yonkers hosts its fourth annual Fall Harvest Festival Saturday night, highlighted by the $400,000 Fall Harvest Series. Eight $50,000 races for New York-bred pacers and trotters comprise the event, which also features a number of fun, family events on the track apron from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Also, the Legislators' Challenge--a trio of non-wagering events with New York elected officials doing battle--takes to the track beginning at 5:30.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)