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

YONKERS, NY — Prior to Friday night, the last time co-owner and trainer Ray Schnittker drove the veteran Armbro Barrister was late March.

The duo staged a rainy reunion at Yonkers Raceway and came away with a 13-1 upset in the co-featured, $30,000 Open Handicap Trot.
After track record-holder (and slight 9-5 race favorite) Victor’s Vicky (Jordan Stratton) jumped it off at the outset, second choice No More Gold N (Greg Grismore) made the lead from his assigned eight-hole.

Clearaway (Stephane Bouchard, the usual driver of “Barrister”) settled second, with Longpond Emily (Jim Marohn) third. Armbro Barrister, meanwhile, leaving from post No. 7, was last among those who left the gate in good order.

No More Gold N led through intervals of 29, 59.1 and 1:28.4. I’m a Sakra (Jason Bartlett) offered a long, uncovered bid before breaking. Enjoy the Victory (Jack Baggitt Jr.) also misbehaved from second-over, while Armbro Barrister–slipping out third-over–was rolling.

No More Gold N took a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane, but the “Barrister” had the law on his side. He stormed by, winning by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:59. No More Gold N, Clearaway, Tell Me a Story (Jeff Gregory) and I’m a Sakra (sixth-placed-fifth) completed the cashers.

For Armbro Barrister, a 7-year-old Malabar Man gelding co-owned (with Schnittker) by Kelk’s and Earl Scheelar, he returned $28.80 (sixth choice) for his third win in a dozen seasonal starts. Armbro Barrister–career earnings now nearing $630,000–led a $152 exacta and $901 triple.

The co-featured, $30,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace proved a case of wet chalk, as 1-2 choice Benear (Gregory) had few issues.
Leaving from post No. 6, she stepped around Brickyard Trouble (Ray Baynes) before a 27.3 opening quarter-mile. After a 58-second intermission and 1:26.3 three-quarters, Benear was nearly 3 lengths to the good turning for home.

She easily held Brickyard Trouble at bay, winning by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:56.1. Miss Galvinator A (Jim Marohn), Whambam N (Jim Marshall III) and Reconquete (Bartlett) scrummed for the scraps.

For Benear, a 5-year-old daughter of Badlands Hanover, she returned $3 for her third win in 13 ’08 tries. The lass is co-owned by David Scharf & Jerry Silva and trained by Carl Cito Jr.