by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s return to “Friday Night Lights” (July 30) offered the usual pair of $15,000 Open Handicaps, carded at the mile and one-sixteenth distance.

First-up was the Open Handicap Trot, where the returning Approved Action (Rejean Daigneault) went in search of a third consecutive local victory.

Assigned outside of his seven rivals and sent off as the 2-1 second choice, the standout statebred took an early seat. On Tour (Ray Schnittker) made the lead, getting the quarter-mile in :28 seconds and the half in :58¹. The mare Pure Adrenalin N (Jim Marohn) worked out an early pocket.

Approved Action was on the move before the intermission, however, and took over soon after the second rest stop. When he cleared the lead, that left Patio Pete and escort Jay Randall to fend for themselves first-over.

No problem for last week’s winner and this week’s 4-5 favorite. Patio Pete sat chilly down the backside the second time while Approved Action led the way through three-quarters in 1:28². It was in and out of the final turn where “Pete” turned up the heat.

He engaged and went by Approved Action in early stretch, then edged away to prevail by a length. The added distance went in 2:05². Jetset Matt (Lou Paulucci), who stalked the winner, gained second, while Texas Lavec (Steve Smith) split rivals to grab third. Bama Bound (Marcus Johansson) and Approved Action came away with the table scraps.

For Patio Pete, it was his sixth victory in 20 seasonal starts. The seven-year-old Overcomer gelding, trained by Ross Croghan for Fireball Racing LLC, returned $3.70. He led a $38.60 exacta and $336 triple.

Friday’s co-featured Filly and Mare Open ‘Cap saw Chip And Gale A (Marohn) thrive in the two hole. After giving up the lead to Lady Matawai N (Johansson), Chip And Gale A watched as that lass put up fractions of :27³, :57¹ and 1:26².

Ascending (catch-driver Schnittker), eyeing her third consecutive distaff derby, offered a hard challenge and put the pacesetter away in the lane. However, she could not get any separation between herself and a fresh pocket-sitter.

Chip And Gale A zipped in the passing lane, getting home by three-quarters of a length in 2:02⁴ for the added distance. Ascending was a gutsy second, with Get Over Lil (Randall) closing from last to get third. Giggling Matti (Bouchard) and River Valley Belle (Jim Marshall III) also made money.

Chip And Gale A, a seven-year-old Down Under daughter of Caesar Blue Chip, returned $10.60 for her seventh win in 27 ’04 tries. She also went over the $300,000 career cash plateau for owner Vincent Ali and trainer Robert DiCerto. The exacta paid $34, with the triple worth $161.50.

Yonkers currently offers a four night a week live racing schedule, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at 7:40 p.m. Afternoon simulcasting is available around the NYRA schedule.

Saturday’s 13 race, “Bye July” card also features Week 3 of the “Empire 6-Pack,” a Yonkers-hubbed Pick-6 wager ($1 minimum) with three races from here (races two, three and five), along with two from Buffalo (both $42,244 New York Sires Stakes events for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings) and one from Saratoga. All six races are to be contested during the 8:00-9:00 p.m. (ET) hour.

Since no one hit last week’s “6-Pack,” this week’s venture starts with a $2,345 carryover.

The wager is available at all New York harness tracks, regional OTB’s and participating simulcast locations. For more information on the “Empire 6-Pack,” including inquiries about taking the wager (out of state outlets are by all means encouraged), please contact Yonkers Raceway, the New York State Racing and Wagering Board (518) 453-8460 or a regional New York State Off-Track Betting office.