For Yonkers Trot Eve--soon to be a recognized holiday--Yonkers Raceway offered a pair of $42,500 co-features
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Hannah Isabel (Cat Manzi) went up and over longshot leader Little Mermaid N (Pat Berry) in the Filly & Mare Open Handicap Pace. She then held off her one serious threat to prevail in a season's-best 1:53.4.
Leaving from post position No. 3, "Hannah" moved from fifth after Little Mermaid N put up intervals of :27.2 and :56.3. Hannah Isabel grabbed the baton before the 1:25 three-quarters, opening a length-and-quarter turning for home.
Cheyenne Trish (Brent Holland)--who slipped out after the leader wore out--took up the chase, but missed by a half-length. Shacked Up (Jeff Gregory), the 13-10 favourite, closed from last to salvage the bottom of the ticket.
Saymynamesaymyname (Matt Kakaley) and Ubetterthink Think (Stephane Bouchard) completed the cashers.
For Hannah Isabel, a five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight trained by Jean Drolet for co-owners Marilyn and Heiman Gross, she returned $11.60 (slight second choice) for her fourth win in 21 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $54, with the triple returning $189.50.
First-up was also the theme in Friday night's co-featured Open Handicap Trot. Master Pine (Jason Bartlett), starting from post No. 6, fell in line fourth. He then went after a stubborn Stonebridge Diablo (Manzi) after that one led through weigh stations of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:27.
Master Pine finally bid adieu to that rival in and out of the final turn, then held sway by a half-length in 1:56.3. A third-over Y F Little Guy (Jim Pantaleano) grabbed second from a second-over, 8-5 choice Dennis (Jordan Stratton). Tasty Max (Gregory) and Pembroke Prayer (Kakaley) grabbed the small change.
For Master Pine, a seven-year-old Mater Lavec gelding trained by Julie Miller for co-owners Mark Moger and Albert Delia Jr., he returned $9.30 (third choice) for his eighth victory (second consecutive) in 18 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $49.20, with the triple returning $141.
Yonkers Raceway's premier trotting classics, the 56th Yonkers Trot and its companion event, the Hudson Filly, are set for Saturday night. Purses are $573,770 (Yonkers) and $299,050 (Hudson), and there's also the ever-popular T-shirt giveaway (while supplies last).
(Yonkers Raceway)