Yonkers, NY — Trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer began the 2022 edition of the John Brennan Trotting Series on Wednesday night (April 6) at Yonkers Raceway by winning two of the five $25,000 first-round divisions.

Seventier gave trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer one of two wins in the first round of the John Brennan Trotting Series. Georgia Panagi photo.

In the first split, Smedshammer put Seventier on the point from post one, and he led through stations of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:27.4 on his way to a 2-1/4 length decision in 1:56.1. Striking Genson (Austin Siegelman) was the runner-up after a pocket trip, and Creative Venture (Jordan Stratton) turned a second-over trip into a third-place result. A 4-year-old Chapter Seven gelding, Seventier is owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC. This was his eighth career victory, and he has now earned $105,026. As the 1-2 favorite, Seventier paid $3.10 to win and led a $7.80 exacta and a $39.80 trifecta.

Lady Ann NO and Smedshammer had command through well-rated panels of :29, :59 and 1:28.2 in the next grouping, and a :28.4 last quarter carried Lady Ann NO to a 2-1/2 length win in 1:57.1. Credit Con (Tyler Buter) had a two-hole journey and wound up second, and Circle Of Life AS (Marcus Miller) grabbed third. American Viking Racing Stable owns Lady Ann NO, a 6-year-old Norwegian-bred Credit Winner mare. She has a record of 7-3-4 from 26 lifetime tries, and she has now put away $149,730. Lady Ann NO was the 4-5 choice and returned $3.90 to win. She also keyed a $19.80 exacta and a $107.00 trifecta.

Front-end tactics also worked for Toccoa Falls (Yannick Gingras) in the third flight. After clearing Shadrack Hanover (Jason Bartlett) for control before the :27.4 opening quarter, Toccoa Falls went on to reach the half in :57.3 and the three-quarters in 1:26.3 en route to a 1-1/2 length triumph in 1:56. Bazillionaire (Buter) was the second-place finisher and Heartofgold Devie (Matt Kakaley) checked in third. Per Engblom trains Toccoa Falls, a 5-year-old gelding by Trixton, for owners Evan Katz and Frank Canzone. Toccoa Falls is now a seven-time winner from 49 trips behind the gate, and he has now banked $128,668. Toccoa Falls, dispatched as the 3-5 favorite, paid $3.20 to win. The exacta was worth $28.80 and the trifecta kicked back $180.50.

Levator (Mark MacDonald), Goo Doo Doll (Scott Zeron) and Hat Trick Marleau (George Brennan) all showed speed in the fourth section, with Goo Doo Doll clearing Levator and then yielding to Hat Trick Marleau before the :27.3 opening quarter. Hat Trick Marleau then set middle-half fractions of :57.1 and 1:25.4, with Jula Muscle Pack (Gingras) making a first-over move out of fourth past the half and then sliding into the pocket approaching three-quarters. Hat Trick Marleau managed to maintain the top spot around the last turn, and although Jula Muscle Pack came back to the outside and tried to chase down the leader in the stretch, it was to no avail, as Hat Trick Marleau went on to score by a length in 1:55.3. Emotions Riches (Stratton) got third. Ricky Bucci trains and owns Hat Trick Marleau, a 6-year-old gelded son of Crazed. Hat Trick Marleau made his 15th appearance in the winner’s circle and returned $3.40 to win as the 3-5 favorite. He was atop a $6.40 exacta and a $26.40 trifecta.

The last division of the night saw P L Oscar (Jim Marohn Jr.) blast through from the pole position and make 1-5 favorite Plumb (Joe Bongiorno) work to clear beyond a :28.2 opening quarter. Plumb then chopped out the half in :58 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:26.2 before separating from the others on the far turn. After Plumb opened up a gap, it looked like the race might be over, but she began to come back to the closers in the lane. Taking advantage of that was Top Me Off (Stratton), who went first-over from fifth past the half, ducked into fourth in the backstretch, and then began a second first-up move nearing three-quarters. Despite doing that uncovered work on the rim, he had the most trot in the lane and got by Plumb in the dying strides to score by a half length in 1:56.1. Plumb had to settle for second, and P L Oscar was third. Top Me Off, a 4-year-old son of Bar Hopping, is owned by trainer Arlene Cameron. Top Me Off posted his 22nd career win, and he has now stashed away $160,459. A 19-1 shot, Top Me Off paid $40.20 to win. Winning exacta and trifecta tickets collected $86.50 and $534.00, respectively.

The John Brennan Trotting Series has two more preliminary rounds on April 13 and April 20, with the final and consolation on April 27.

Stakes action continues at Yonkers on Friday (April 8) with three $40,000 fourth-round divisions of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series and Monday (April 11) with four $40,000 fourth-round splits of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series. Yonkers Raceway remains on a Monday-Friday live racing schedule with first post at 6:55 p.m.