by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Favored In Secret (George Brennan, $6.60) did it in style Sunday afternoon (June 17), fashioning a Father’s Day track record in Yonkers Raceway’s $54,800 Open Handicap Trot The overflow field of 10—including two in the back of the bus—went as the opener and the first of four mile-and-a-quarter ‘French’ trots.

Katy Gazzini photo

In Secret sets a new track of 2:23.2 at Yonkers Raceway on Sunday.

Quite eager from assigned post position No. 7, In Secret worked around Fearless Man (Jason Bartlett) before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile. From there, he let the good times roll (:56.1, 1:25), widening his lead while losing Fearless Man down the backside the final time.

Dewycolorintheline (Mark MacDonald) took up the chase nearing the 1:53.3 milepost (note the all-age, flat-mile trot record is 1:53.2), as did a handful of other closers.

Meanwhile, In Secret had a 2-1/2 length lead off the final turn. He’d need a fair amount of that, holding off Tight Lines (Jeff Gregory) by a neck in 2:23.2…track record for aged geldings at the distance.

Back markers Bluebird Jesse (Brent Holland) and Buen Camino (Jim Marohn Jr.) were third and fourth, respectively, with Dewycolorintheline salvaging the final pay envelope.

For In Secret, a 6-year-old Dewycheatumnhowe gelding co-owned as Burke Racing by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, J&T Silva Stables and Larry Karr, it was his fourth win in 13 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $34.60, the triple returned $134 and the superfecta paid $889.

It was one of Brennan’s four wins during the 10-race card.

Sunday’s return of the ‘New York, New York Double’ offered a winning combination of 6-Tombelaine (Belmont’s third race) and 2-Windsong Leo (Yonkers’ seventh race) paid $11.90 for every correct $1 wager. Total pool was $4,651.

The next Sunday matinee is July 1st with the post time TBA.