by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night (Aug. 29) $44,000 co-featured Opens — a handicap for distaff pacers and a blind draw for all trotters — were won by rank outsider Campanile (Eric Carlson, $58.50) and Obrigado (Brent Holland, $11).

An early bystander from post position No. 4, Campanile had much to watch. Last week’s victress Robin Cruiser (Jordan Stratton) was in play, getting stung by pole assignee, the newly-sold Venus Delight (Jason Bartlett).

Mayra Escamilla photo

Campanile (No. 4) prevailed by a neck in 1:52.3 in the Mares Open.

No sooner did the just-above-even-money fave Robin Cruiser make the lead (:26.4 opening quarter-mile) than Monkey On My Wheel (Dan Dube) took her turn. Monkey On My Wheel found a :55.4 intermission and 1:24.2 three-quarters, with Montenegro (Greg Merton) offering a stern test first-up.

Monkey On My Wheel opened to a 1-1/4 length lead entering the lane, but was done soon after. Venus Delight closed deep in the passing lane, but it was Campanile — third-up — moving widest and fastest. Sixth in and out of the final turn, Campanile prevailed by a neck in 1:52.3. Robin Cruiser, Crazy On You (Holland) and Camille (George Brennan) rounded out the payees.

For Campanile, a 5-year-old daughter of No Pan Intended trained by Allan Johnson for owner Michael Casalino Jr., it was her seventh win in 31 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $290.50, with the triple returning $789.

The week’s marquee trot saw upstate scourge Obrigado — which, as pointed out by track announcer John Hernan, translates to “thank you” in Portuguese — prevail from second-over.

After Tober (Bartlett) and Lorenzo Dream (Jeff Gregory) led the way (:27.2, :57.1), Tober regained and found a 1:26.1 three-quarters. He had a 2-1/4 length lead turning for home, having disposed of both a stopping Lorenzo Dream and an uncovered DW’s NY Yank (Brennan).

However, Obrigado — gradually advancing from post No. 5 — snapped the leader late, winning by a neck in 1:55.3. Third went to Bingo Queen (Eric Goodell), with tepid 19-10 choice Somebody AS (Dube) and DW’s NY Yank settling for the minor awards.

Obrigado, a 4-year-old Boy Band gelding co-owned by trainer Paul Kelley, William Weaver III, Linwood Higgins and Stable 45, is now 7-for-16 this season (28-for-39 lifetime). The exacta paid $44.20, with the triple returning $216.50.

Friday’s undercard saw the 7-year-old double millionaire Wishing Stone (Brennan, $3.70) beat up his rivals, setting a track record for older trotting horses (1:54.2). He (nearly a year ago to the day) and Archangel shared the old standard at a tick slower.