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

Yonkers, NY — Buoyed by a carryover in excess of $4,500 ($4,501.50, to be precise) and Monday night’s usual $10,000 guaranteed pool, Yonkers Raceway’s Pick-5 had more interest than usual.

Nearly $24,000 of fresh money ($23,886, exactly) was bet into the gimmick, creating a total pool (after takeout) of $22,416.50. The winning combination of 4/1/3/6/2 saw one ticket take down the whole pot. It’s by far the largest Pick-5 payout of the season.

We can’t swear to it, but perhaps the winning ticket was purchased by the Robbie Siegelman Fan Club. The affable trainer upset the apple cart with a pair of Cheyenne Gang/Barry Rubinstein Farms longshot homebreds in the Pick-5 sequence. Cheyenne Jeffrey ($47.40) and Cheyenne Seeber ($28.80) won the seventh (1:53.4) and ninth (1:53.2) races, respectively, both with pocket trips.

The Pick-5 is a 50 cent base wager offered each racing program (races seven through 11). It has no consolation payoff, so if no one selects all five winners (as was the case Saturday) the entire pool (minus takeout) moves to the next program ($10,000 guaranteed pool every Monday).