Yonkers, NY — Hard-knocking Will Take Charge (Jordan Stratton, $3.20) did not have to work hard Saturday night (June 22), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $44,000 co-featured Open Handicap Trot…becoming a career millionaire along the way.

Will Take Charge achieved millionaire status on Saturday (June 23), winning the feature at Yonkers Raceway. Katy Gazzini Photo.

Winning the 3-thru-6 draw among the half-dozen, the odds-on number strolled around the surroundings (:28,  57.3, 1:26, 1:54), the mile matching a season-best effort. Pole-assigned In Secret (George Brennan) could not match strides from the pocket, beaten a length-and-a-quarter. A ground-saving Smalltownthrowdown (Jim Marohn Jr.) was third, with a returning Melady’s Monet (Eric Goodell) and Chasin’ Dreams (Jason Bartlett) picking off the lesser loot.

Trotting Grace (Brent Holland) was never involved.

For Will Take Charge, a 6-year-old Kadabra gelding co-owned by (trainer) Jeff Gillis and Mac Nichol, it was his third win in nine seasonal starts (life 24-for-85, $1,006,228). The exacta paid $6.70, the triple returned $33.80 and the superfecta paid $91.50.

Stratton then doubled his pleasure in the $44,000 Open Handicap Pace, overcoming losing the 4-thru-8 get away with a third-up Micky Gee N ($20).

With no choice but to spectate early, Micky Gee N saw 3-2 choice Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing) lead through spiffy intervals of :25.4, :55 seconds flat and 1:22.2.  Getting fractions to close into, Micky Gee N closed crisply, getting the better of Classy Dragon (Joe Bongiorno) late. That one attacked the favorite, eventually winning the battle but losing the war.

Micky Gee N prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.4, with 45-1 rank outsider Proven Desire (Marohn Jr.) third. Dr. J Hanover (Brent Holland) and Toatsmygoats (Brennan) came away with the remainder, while Rock Diamonds N tired to seventh among the octet.

For fifth choice Micky Gee N, a 6-year-old Down Under Bettor’s Delight gelding owned by William Hartt and trained Lance Hudson, it was his fifth win in a dozen ’19  tries. The exacta paid $159.50, the triple returned $1,153 and the superfecta paid $5,546.