by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Stablemates Blastaway Sahbra and Weeping Wannabe, defending king and queen of Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night throne, look to maintain the monarchy from outside assignments in this week’s pair of $15,000 Open Handicaps. Post time for the 10 race card is 7:40 p.m., with the co-featured ‘Caps going as races seven (Filly and Mare Pace) and nine (Trot). Weeping Wannabe (Stephane Bouchard, post seven) just lasted on the lead in last week’s distaff derby, her first seasonal win in two tries. The six-year-old daughter of Artsplace, co-owned by Ed Mullinax and Frank Dettore and trained by Mark Ford, has that victory and four seconds in her last eight outings dating to mid-November. She enters with career earnings in excess of $345,000. Reach For Eternity (Greg Merton, post five) lost the proverbial tough photo to “Weeping” last week, though the payday moved her past the $200,000 career cash figure. The five-year-old Falcon Seelster miss, trained by Tim Case for DCPM Racing, whipped the high conditioned crowd in her previous effort. Sandra G (Driver TBA, post six) enters with five consecutive in the money finishes, including a pocket third in last week’s femme feature. The five-year-old Yankee Cam ma’am, trained by Lance Hudson for co-owners Fred and Anita Fialkow, won this event two and four starts ago. Ex Libris Hanover (Steve Smith, post four) is set for her first pari-mutuel performance since last September after doing solid work a year ago. The now five-year-old Life Sign lass won a dozen races and more than $68,000 in 2004, including a second place finish in the $39,000 final of the Petticoat Pacing Series here last April. She was last seen locally in a June Open Handicap event for owner Joel Wheeler and trainer Karen Garland. Twin B Candy (Driver TBA, post one), Get Over Lil (Jay Randall, post two) and Southwind Sundew (Driver TBA, post three) complete the collage. Friday night’s Open Handicap Trot finds Ford and Bouchard teaming with horse-for-the-course Blastaway Sahbra, who returned a winner last week, despite being more than a bit reluctant to turn toward the starting gate. The seven-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding, forced outside of his half-dozen rivals, notched 14 of his 17 ’04 wins here. “Blastaway” has socked away nearly $629,000 for co-owners Dean Davis and Brenda Sugg. Madison’s Tuition (Rick Farrington, post six) took last week off after throwing in some steps in his lone ’05 appearance. The eight-year-old Keystone Fool gelding, owned and trained by David Martin, had won three of his previous five tries, led by a 25-1 blowout performance in mid-December. Amesbury (Smith, post five), bunkmate of Ex Libris Hanover, makes his Westchester debut. The four-year-old son of S J’s Photo, a six-figure performer in ’04, was third in a central Jersey Open Handicap a week ago. On Tour (Ray Schnittker, post three) and Speed Of Shogun (Jim Meittinis, post four) were second and third, respectively, in last week’s marquee trot, the latter just failing to hold off Blastaway Sahbra in a gutsy effort. Don Carlos (Jim Doherty, post one) and Mysterious Caller (Mike Forte, post two) round out the roster. Don Carlos was handy, high conditioned winner here in his final ’04 try. Friday’s evening simulcast schedule includes the Meadows (post time 6:00), Northfield (7:00), Charles Town (7:15), Penn National (7:20), Pompano (7:20), Rosecroft (7:20) and Meadowlands (7:30). January’s evening/harness simulcast schedule includes Charles Town Races, Freehold Raceway, Meadowlands, the Meadows, Monticello Raceway, Mountaineer Race Track, Northfield Park, Northville Downs, Penn National, Pompano Park, Rosecroft Raceway and Sam Houston Race Park. For more information, or to obtain a calendar, please contact the Raceway at (914) 968-4200.