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

Yonkers, NY — Odds-on favorite Iron (Andy Miller, $3.70) barely lasted Tuesday night (Jan. 10), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $25,000 featured trot.

Gabriela Trmal photo

Iron was a 1:57.4 winner in the $25,000 featured trot.

Wide early from post position No. 6, Iron worked around pole-sitting What A Peach (Dan Dube), then made the lead before a :28.4 opening quarter-mile.

After a :58.3 intermission, Inukchuk Chuck (Jim Marshall III) moved from fourth. He hung around in and out of a 1:28.2 three-quarters as Iron owned a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane.

What A Peach had every chance up the inside, but missed by a head in 1:57.4. Third went to Inukchuk Chuck, with Dewdle All Day (Mark MacDonald) and Master Class (George Brennan) completing the cashers.

For Iron, a 5-year-old Cantab Hall gelding trained by Julie Miller for co-owners (breeder) K R Breeding, Frank Baldassare and Robert Rudolph, it was a season-debuting win after just nine starts in 2016. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $11.60, the triple returned $34.80 and the superfecta paid $69.50.

This story also (hopefully) serves as a reminder that Westchester Tuesdays are now evening programs, with the usual night first post of 7:10 p.m.