Yonkers Raceway's Friday night $37,000 co-featured Opens -- a blind-draw Pace for the ladies and a Handicap Trot who all with letters of recommendation -- were won by people's preference Ramalama ($3.40) and a last-early Super Manning ($7.30), both driven by Matt Kakaley.
In play early from post position No. 2, Ramalama -- as the 7-10 choice -- worked around pole-sitting Blissful Romance (George Brennan), taking the lead after a :27.4 opening quarter-mile.
Then, it was an elongated move by Economy Terror (Mark MacDonald), with that one's turn in the big chair.
Economy Terror found a :55.1 intermission before Blissful Romance moved from third. She changed her mind, leaving Rock N Load (Jordan Stratton) first-up toward a 1:23.3 three-quarters. That one wasn't gaining and Ramalama pulled an antsy pocket before the final turn.
However, Economy Terror wouldn't go down without a fight. Ramalama did prevail though, winning by a length in 1:52.1. Ideal In Vegas (Cat Manzi) was third, beaten fourth lengths, with Rock N Load and Sweet Hedge (Dan Dube) settling for the minor awards.
For Ramalama, a four-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock and trained by David Duspiva, the win was her 10th in 27 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $17, with the triple returning $53.50.
The week's marquee trot had one similar element of last week's marquee trot...the implosion of all-age track record-holder Quick Dream (Brennan). This time around, that one, as the 9-10 favourite, was well-situated fourth early before doing the dance of the damned.
Likeabatoutahell (Dube) two-moved around last week's winner, Lorenzo Dream (Eric Goodell), with intervals of :28, :56.3 and 1:25.1. Meanwhile, Super Manning -- unhurried from post No. 6 -- was continuing a long backside move, engaging the leader in and out of the final turn.
Super Manning edged away mid-stretch, widening to two and three-quarter lengths in 1:54.4. Third went to Justa Rebel (Stratton), with War Cry Hall (Jason Bartlett) and And Heez Perfect (MacDonald) rounding out the payees.
For second-choice Super Manning, a five-year-old homebred Diamond Goal gelding owned by Joseph Pennacchio and trained by Kevin Carr, the win was his seventh in 29 '13 tries. The exacta paid $55, the triple returned $274.50 and the superfecta paid $1,415.
The Raceway's live schedule concludes Saturday night, with the customary 7:10 p.m. first post. The 2014 season is scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 6, pending NYS Gaming Commission approval.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)