by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Yonkers, NY — The lights were green at every turn for Green Day, as he won the $644,770 Yonkers Trot on Saturday night (August 25) at Yonkers Raceway. Driven by Cat Manzi for trainer Jim Raymer, who owns the Enjoy Lavec gelding with his wife Mary, as Trillium Racing Stable, Green Day’s time was 1:56.

USTA/Ellen Harvey photo

Green Day holds off Up Front Larry at the wire to win the Yonkers Trot.

The Raymers supplemented Green Day to the race and Manzi sent him right to the lead from post two, hitting the quarter mile mark in :28.3 with Up Front Larry (Dave Palone) in behind him, followed by Cayenne Turbo (Jim Meittinis) and Quite Easy (Jimmy Takter). The 3-5 favorite, Adrian Chip (Robert Bergh), got away fifth on the rail and stayed there throughout much of the race.

By the :58 half, Manzi and Green Day were still on the lead, with the same parade of horses following them with no change in order. Green Day had a 2-1/4 length lead on the field at the 1:27.3 three-quarters with Up Front Larry unable to make up any ground.

As the field turned for home, Bergh made a pronounced turn to the right from sixth place to gain clearance and Adrian Chip responded with a furious, but futile, rush for the lead. Green Day hit the wire a half length ahead of Up Front Larry and Bergh got Adrian Chip up for third. Anderberg (Steve Smith) was fourth and Primary AS (Trond Smedshammer) was fifth.

“The horse let me know scoring down that he was going to be good and that gave me a lot of confidence,” Manzi said of his move right for the lead. “I wasn’t happy with him last week (Green Day was second in his elimination), he just wasn’t himself, but Jim (Raymer) made some adjustments on him and he was better than ever tonight. It’s just great to win this race, this is a very happy time.”

Co-owner and caretaker Mary Raymer was asked if she was surprised by this, the biggest stake win for the family’s Trillium Stable.

“Not really. That’s why we supplemented him (for $60,000), he gets around a half so well. After he won the big race at Monticello (the $338,000 Nevele Pride on June 25) we thought he deserved a chance.

“We bought him as a yearling for $6,000 in Kentucky. When he walked in the ring, we were both impressed and Jim put his hand up and bought him. He’s just been a dream from day one, he doesn’t wear a boot. We just work with trotters, we’re based at Sam Beegle’s (Ginger Tree Farm) in New Holland, Pennsylvania. Our biggest win before this was with Scully FBI in the Classic final.”

Peter Forsberg, a co-owner of the favorite Adrian Chip, was on hand to see his colt race.

“I thought he would get to the head (of the pack),” said the two time Stanley Cup-winning hockey player. “He’s been good so far. I think it was good, this last race and he’s still a good horse. He’s here one more week; he’s going to Illinois (to the World Trotting Derby in Du Quoin, Illinois on September 1). He leaves on Monday, I think.”