by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Texican N (Eric Carlson $19.20) and Melady’s Monet (Jason Bartlett, $3.20) each went from pocket to paydirt Saturday night (July 4), winning Yonkers Raceway’s holiday $42,000 co-featured Open Handicaps.

Sean Hamrock photos

Texican N was a 1:52.4 winner in the featured pace.

Texican N, from post position No. 3 in the weekly featured pace, found himself sequestered in the two-hole behind Rock On Moe (Jordan Stratton). That one led through intervals of :27.1, :57.1 and 1:25.1, with P H Supercam (Bartlett) making a second move.

It was Rock On Moe taking a short lead into the lane, with he and P H Supercam slugging it out. That left Texican N waiting his turn, and he dove inside to win a three-way scrum. The margin, over win-the-battle-lose-the-war P H Supercam, was a head in a season’s-best 1:52.4, with Rock On Moe third, beaten a half-length. The small change went to McErlean (Tyler Buter) and The Real One (Pat Lachance).

For fifth choice Texican N, a 6-year-old Down Under Bettor’s Delight gelding owned by Harry von Knoblauch and trained by Peter Tritton, it was his third win in 18 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $104, with the triple returning $409.50.

As for odds-on Melady’s Monet, he just shows up here for holidays. Last seen in Westchester Halloween Night, he was a solid winner here in the week’s marquee trot. Leaving from post No. 6 (in one notch after an inside scratch), the 3-5 choice made the lead before yielding to Luminosity (George Brennan).

Subsections of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:26 (weak, first-over company in the form of Tweet Me and Tyler Buter) gave Luminosity a length lead in and out of the final turn. However, he couldn’t stave off a pylon-diving Melady’s Money, who edged away by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55. Take My Picture (Mark MacDonald), E R Ellie (Stratton) and Lorenzo Dream (Carlson) settled for the remainder.

For Melady’s Monet, a 6-year-old Revenue S gelding owned by Melady Enterprises and trained by Kevin McDermott, it was his seventh win in 15 2015 tries. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $7.10, the triple returned $32.40 and the superfecta paid $174.

Note that since no one took down Saturday’s Pick-5, Monday night’s gimmick — already with a $10,000 guaranteed pool — begins with a carryover of $2,881.61 (50-cent base wager, races seven through 11).

The Raceway’s live season continues Monday night (7:10 p.m.), Tuesday matinee (1 p.m.), then Thursday through Saturday (all at 7:10 p.m.). Evening simulcasting accompanies all night programs, with afternoon simulcasting available daily.