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

Yonkers, NY — Not Afraid (Dan Dube, $5.50) held off Red Hot Herbie (Brian Sears) in a two-speed number Sunday afternoon (Jan. 17), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $32,000 Open Handicap Trot.

Jelena Gerga photo

Not Afraid held off Red Hot Herbie in Sunday afternoon’s $32,000 Open Handicap Trot.

Assigned post position No. 5 among the half-dozen, Not Afraid and outside-remanded Red Hot Herbie were both in play early. Not Afraid retook from Red Hot Herbie right before the :28.4 opening quarter-mile, then rated a comfy :59 intermission. It was a 1:27.3 three-quarters as Tweet Me (Pat Lachance) moved from third, in front of 13-10 choice Dot Dot Dot Dash (Matt Kakaley).

Not Afraid owned a 1-3/4 length lead into the lane, then held sway despite drifting. He whipped Red Hot Herbie by a half-length in 1:55.4, fastest local trot mile thus far this season. Tweet Me, Dot Dot Dot Dash and Zooming (Tyler Buter) came away with the remainder, while Theraputic (George Brennan) was outrun.

Second choice Not Afraid, a 7-year-old S J’s Caviar gelding trained by Jimmy Takter for co-owners Christina Takter, John Fielding and Goran Anderberg, is now 2-for-2 in 2016. The exacta paid $19, with the triple returning $118.

Note that the “French” Sunday matinees take a hiatus until Feb. 28. The Raceway’s season continues Monday (first post 7:10 p.m.) and Tuesday (1 p.m.).