P Note Blue Chip (George Brennan) won Friday night's $44,000 Open Handicap trot at Yonkers. Photo
courtesy of Mike Lizzi. YONKERS, NY, Friday, August 31, 2012--Yonkers Raceway's usual Friday night pair of $44,000 co-featured Open Handicaps--for distaff pacers and either-gender-welcome trotters--were won by P Note Blue Chip (George Brennan, $12.80) and Blacktuxwhitesocks (Brennan, $8.50).
In play from post position No. 2, "P Note" worked around Shaky Hanover (Brian Sears), making the lead before a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. From there, a rated 29-second next intervals (:56.4 half) before Breakheart Pass (Jason Bartlett) made her second move of the performance. Ticket to Rock (Cat Manzi), the 13-10 choice, was gapping from second-over.
However, Breakheart Pass was rebuffed in and out of the 1:23.4 three-quarters as P Note Blue Chip took a length-and-three-quarter lead into the lane. From there, she needed only hold off a "Shaky" stalker, which "P Note" did by three-quarters of a length in a season's-best 1:52.2. Third went to Ticket to Rock, with Breakheart Pass and All About Kisses (Eric Goodell) grabbing the small change.
For P Note Blue Chip, a 5-year-old daughter of Western Ideal co-owned by Ross Warriner and Steve Calhoun and trained by Casie Coleman, it was her seventh win (as the fourth choice) in 21 '12 tries. The exacta paid $47.60, with the triple returning $172.50.
It was a perfect, second-over trip for Blacktuxwhitesocks. Overcoming the always-appreciated eight-hole,
"Blacktux"--who shares the all-age track record (1:54.1) with Archangel--watched from sixth as H and M's Hit (Jordan Stratton) put up early fractions of :28.1 and :58.
Looking Hanover (Yannick Gingras), the 3-2 favorite. then moved from fifth, engaging the leader through a :28.3 third quarter. (1:26.3). Turning for home, one could sense "Looking" was about to win the battle, but lose the war. He put away H and M's Hit, but was powerless to stave off the trotter in his back. It was Blacktuxwhitesocks, as the third choice, edging away late, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.
Bastille (Manzi), Master Pine (Jim Pantaleano) and Son of Nordic (Goodell) earned the minor spoils.
For Blacktuxwhitesocks, a 5-year-old Credit Winner gelding trained by Trond Smedshammer and owned by Purple Haze Stables, it was his sixth win in 17 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $20.60, the triple returned $84.50 and the superfecta paid $460.50.
The Raceway continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.
BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
