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

Yonkers, NY — A week ago, Solo Story missed by a hard-charging neck at 40-1. Tuesday night (Feb. 27), he didn’t miss at all.

Chris Brokate photo

Solo Story lit up the toteboard at 61-1 odds.

Try $125.50, Yonkers Raceway’s largest win mutuel of the season. Bumping up from the $15,000 claimers to the $20,000 fraternity, the 61-1 Solo Story (catch-driver Larry Stalbaum) closed from seventh from in the line, winning the $13,000 eighth race pace in a season’s-best 1:54.3.

Starting from post position No. 7 in the field of nine, Solo Story was barely in the same area code — eighth, 14 lengths out — early. He remained eighth (though closer) at both the half and three-quarters before uncorking his rally from seventh off the final turn.

He actually won going away, beating Wild Again (catch-driver Anthony Napolitano) by a length. Adonis Bay (Eric Goodell) was third, with Inspiration View (Jordan Stratton) fourth to complete the gimmicks.

For Solo Story, a 5-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding owned by Jesse McAssey and trained by Jaymes McAssey, it was his second win in six seasonal starts. The exacta paid $599, the triple returned $4,971 and the superfecta paid $40,448 (base $2 payout, 10-cent ticket worth $2,022.40).