Aggressive wins $68K Open Trot at Yonkers

by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, for Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Aggressive (Mark MacDonald, $9.80) angled off the cones and was up at the wire Sunday afternoon (March 19), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $68,000 Open Trot.

Starting from the pylons in the field of nine., as the infamous 10-hole was scratched, Aggressive minded his manners as the lass Allerage Star (Andy Miller) left over Lady’s Dude (George Brennan), and wasn’t in too much of a hurry (:29.1, :59).

Hemi Seelster (Jason Bartlett), as the slight 7-2 favorite from the second tier, then offered some mild heat. The one came first-up from fifth toward a 1:28.1 three-quarters, but never seriously challenged. Allerage Star had the lead at the 1:57 milepost, with a 1-1/2 advantage in and out of the final turn.

It was about the juncture when Aggressive extricated himself from the cones. He and Lady’s Dude—who appeared to duck into the passing lane a lap earlier—provided Allerage Star with unwanted company from both flanks.

Lady’s Dude did so again this time, but was outgamed by Aggressive, who earned the schnoz decision in 2:27.1 for the 1-1/4 mile distance. Allerage Star was third, beaten a neck, with a traffic-troubled Luck O the Irish (Jordan Stratton) and Hemi Seelster rounding out the payees.

The five payees were separated by just a 1-3/4 lengths at the wire.

For third choice Aggressive, a 6-year-old Kadabra gelding trained by Gilberto Garcia-Herrera for owner Gilbert Garcia-Owen, it was his third win in five seasonal starts. The exacta paid $130, the triple returned $510 and the superfecta paid $1,535.

This was the final Sunday card until the end of May, and also the last ‘New York, New York Double’ until then (when Aqueduct becomes Belmont). Sunday’s winning combination of 1-Lakeside Sunset, Aqueduct’s third race, and 7-Not Afraid, Yonkers’ sixth race, paid $20 for every correct $1 ticket. Total pool was $5,745.