‘Centurion’, Feel The Need A win 45G co-features at Yonkers
August 21, 2016,by Frank Drucker, for Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Centurion ATM (Steve Smith, $33.80) and Feel The Need A (Eric Goodell, $5.10) were the names above the marquee Saturday (Aug. 20) night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 co-featured Open Handicaps.
Centurion ATM surprised in the weekly trotting feature in a first-up and first-home effort. Away fourth from post position three, he saw 9-10 choice Melady’s Monet (Tyler Buter) lead through intervals of :28, 58 and 1:27.1.
Centurion ATM moved in a hurry, disposing of ‘Melady’ just after the thee-quarters and taking off. He opened three lengths entering the lane, then held off a belated rally from Undercover Strike (Jason Bartlett) to win by a half-length in 1:55.1.
Lady’s Dude (George Brennan), Allerage Star (Dan Dube) and Melady’s Monet rounded out the payees.
For fifth choice Centurion ATM, a 4-year-old son of S J’s Caviar trained by Ake Svanstedt for co-owners Courant A B and Knuttson Trotting, it was his second win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $223.50, with the triple returning $1,613.
It was a much better effort for ‘Centurion” than his only other local try, breaking early and often as the odds-on choice in an elimination for the 2015 Yonkers Trot.
The week’s adult pace saw favored Feel The Need A make it 3-for-3 since coming stateside. From post five, he two-moved before the quarter-mile, taking over from Doctor Butch (Brent Holland) and zipping around the pylons (:27.1, :55.3, 1:23.3, life-best 1:50.4).
Doctor Butch ducked inside, but missed by a half-length. Western Rockstar A (Joe Bongiorno) was third, with Great Vintage (Dan Dube) and P H Supercam (Bartlett) dead-heating for fourth.
For Feel The Need A, a 7-year-old Down Under Speed King gelding trained by Chris Oakes for co-owners Susan Oakes and Wier All In, he’s now five-for-14 this season. The exacta paid $17.20, the triple returned $114.50 and the superfectas paid $359.50/$303.50 (Great Vintage fourth/PH Supercam fourth).
Since no one hit Saturday’s Pick-5 wager, Monday (Aug. 22) evening’s gimmick begins with a carryover of $3,501.50 (50-cent base wager. races 7 through 11).