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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s pair of Friday night $33,000 Opens, a blind draw Pace for the ladies and a handicapped Trot for all with the requisite resume, were won by a first-up Carols Desire (Jason Bartlett, $20.60) and another first-up Cowgirl Hall (George Brennan, $6.30).

Carols Desire was a winner in 1:55.3.

After pole-sitting Keeper’s Destiny (Brian Sears) strung out both slight 2-1 choice Lorrie Please (Eric Carlson) and 24-1 shot Mandy’s Mattjesty (Brennan), it was Mandy’s Mattjesty taking over. She made the lead passing a :28 opening quarter-mile, then found a :57.2 intermission.

Carols Desire — starting from post position No. 3 — moved from fifth, with Stage It Right (Mark MacDonald) on her tail. Mandy’s Mattjesty maintained the lead in and out of a 1:26.1 three-quarters, with a length advantage entering the lane.

However, her fan club would be leaving soon. Carols Desire continued her grind, eventually holding off Stage It Right by a nose in 1:55.3. Third went to an angled-out Keeper’s Destiny, with a seam-squeezing Ideal In Vegas (Matt Kakaley) and Mandy’s Mattjesty rounding out the payees.

For fifth choice Carols Desire, a 4-year-old daughter of Real Desire co-owned by Richard J. Banca and M T Wallet Enterprises and trained by Rich Banca, it was her first win in two seasonal starts. The exacta paid $169.50, with the triple returning $770.

Mayra Escamilla photos

Cowgirl Hall nailed Zooming at the wire in the featured trot.

The week’s marquee trot saw last week’s winner, Zooming (Tyler Buter), in play early. He worked around Lorenzo’s Dream (Goodell), finding early intervals of :28.4 and :59. As for Cowgirl Hall, she left into a five hole from post No. 7.

Cowgirl Hall, the 2-1 fave as the lone lass, then took up the chase. She engaged Zooming by the 1:28.2 three-quarters in an old-fashioned match race. Zooming fought the tough fight, but it was ladies first. Cowgirl Hall prevailed over Zooming by a neck in 1:56.4, with Lorenzo Dream, War Cry Hall (Bartlett) and Likeabatoutahell (Sears) settling for the small change.

For fifth choice Cowgirl Hall, a 5-year-old daughter of Cash Hall co-owned as Burke Racing by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Jack Piatt and Michael Rosenthal, it was her third win in as many ’14 tries (5-for-5 since the barn change). The exacta (two wagering favorites) paid $25.60, the triple returned $137.50 and the superfecta paid $593.

Friday night’s handle for the dozen races was $1,232,873, a single-program high thus far in 2014.