by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — During the month-long quartet of preliminaries in the Yonkers Raceway/Standardbred Owners Association of New York Bonus Trot Series, several horses acquitted themselves with distinction.

That not only made their respective camps giddy, it also set up Friday night’s (April 30) intriguing $42,200 final at Yonkers Raceway.

The octet of finalists, with all but one eligible for the SOA of NY’s $10,000 “carrot,” included a trio of entrants — Blast Off, Speedy Rattle, and the mare Whip A Way — each with three series prep wins to their credit.

Blast Off, with regular driver John Plutino at the controls, outdrew his main rivals and was sent postward with the hopes and dreams of those who took him at 90 cents on the dollar.

Leaving from post position two, Blast Off was on the move early, claiming the lead from early pole-sitter Donnegal (Jeff Gregory) before the spirited :28³ opening quarter-mile.

From there, Plutino did a masterful rating job, backing the half down to 1:01 and the three-quarters to 1:31³. Those pokey fractions did nothing for the cause of either the first-up Speedy Rattle (Anne Wheeler) or the second-over Whip A Way (Stephane Bouchard).

Blast Off, taking a length and a half lead into the lane, needed only to hold off Donnegal to earn the glory. He did, prevailing by a length in 2:00² — last quarter in :28⁴. It was Blast Off’s second sub-:29 final quarter in this series. Whip A Way ducked inside Speedy Rattle to grab third, with Billy Wood N (Greg Merton) earning the final payday. Mac Machine (Mark Beckwith), Dagger Hanover (Jim Marshall III) and the early breaker, Diamond Trot A (Alessandro Spano), completed the order of finish.

Blast Off, a four-year-old Malabar Man gelding, is trained by John Schmigel for Klis Brothers Stable. He returned $3.80 for his eighth victory in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $15.40, the triple was good for $103, while the superfecta was worth $343.

Blast Off not only earned the $21,100 winner’s share, but also the $10,000 bonus (FYI: the bonus fund was part of a suit won by the SOA of NY against Roosevelt Raceway for undistributed purse money going a good way back).

Friday night’s $13,500 Open Handicap Trot saw Writteninthestars (Bouchard) rally to snap a stubborn Classic Jerry (Merton) near the wire.

Writteninthestars, a four-year-old Lindy Lane gelding, was up by a half length, getting the mile and one-sixteenth distance in 2:07².

Total Mayhem (Gregory) closed from last in the half-dozen to grab third, with CR Pants On Fire (Beckwith), Mysterious Caller (Mike Forte) and a repelled favorite Madison’s Tuition (Jim Marohn) completing the order.

Writteninthestars, owned by Dunn Stable and trained by Mark Ford, won his third race in six ’04 tries, He paid $5.50, leading a $60 exacta and $215.50 triple.

Friday’s card also included a trio of Bonus Trot consolations, worth $12,000, $7,000 and $7,000, respectively. The winners were:

• Metro A, g, 10 (by Keystone Gondola); co-owners (trainer) David Hrabovsky, Peter Hrabovsky, and Michael Janis/driver Jim Meittinis; 2:02²/$11.80.
• Tequila Spur, h, 4 (by Muscles Yankee); owner Roy Davis/trainer Ford/driver Bouchard; 2:01²/$2.40.
• Bud Ross, g, 4 (by First Action); co-owners Richard Carney and Serafino Bueti, Jr./trainer Vincent Amitrano/driver Merton; 2:01⁴/$2.80.

The Raceway’s Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday schedule remains in effect (please note no live racing Friday night, May 7, but evening simulcasting is available). First post remains at the usual 7:40 p.m.

Afternoon simulcasting continues to be offered around the NYRA schedule.