by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway took the bow off its 2018 season Sunday (Jan. 7), with lone lass Consolidator (catch-driver Jim Marohn Jr., $16.60) winning a chilly $50,000 Open Handicap Trot. Originally drawn with nine entrants, the field was pared to seven after the eight-hole (Melady’s Monet, sick) and nine-hole (Tight Lines, weather) assignees were scratched.
Mike Lizzi photo
Consolidator captures the featured event at Yonkers Raceway to kick off 2018.
Consolidator, from post position four, worked out a third-over trip. She set it up after Mostinterestingman (Brent Holland) stuffed Money Maven (Yannick Gingras) into the pocket before eventually yielding to 9-10 choice Cash Me Out (Eric Goodell).
All this took place through early intervals of :29.4, 1:00 and 1:30.2. Money Maven then made his second move, going right at Cash Me Out at the 1:59.3 milepost.
A second-up Luminosity (George Brennan) wasn’t the problem, but Consolidator was. She closed fastest, picking off Money Maven by a head while getting the 1-1/4 miles in 2:29. Cash Me Out faded to third, with Home’n Dry (Matt Kakaley) and Luminosity settling for the remainder.
A casualty of the demise of the passing lane was Mostinterestingman, pocketed behind a tiring leader and ending up sixth.
For fourth choice Consolidator, a now-5-year-old daughter of Triumphant Caviar co-owned as Allard Racing by trainer Rene Allard, Bruce Soulsby, Laura Baker and Alan Weisenberg, the winning 2018 debut pushed her career earnings over $488,000. The exacta paid $79.50, while triple returned $256.50.