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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s pair of Friday night $35,000 Open Handicaps–for distaff pacers and trotters of any particular persuasion–were won by Don’t Point At (Jeff Gregory, $20.40) and Looking Hanover (Brian Sears, $5.10).

Mike Lizzi photo

Don’t point At (4) was a 1:53 winner for driver Jeff Gregory.

Don’t Point At, last among the seven early, watched as reformed claimer Hot List (Matt Kakaley) made the lead from her outside starting venue. Caught wide at the outset, she worked around Bet on Luck (Jim Pantaleano) after a :27.2 opening quarter-mile.

Hot List caught a breather with a :56.4 intermission before last week’s winner, Southwind Jazmin (George Brennan), made her second move. After tucking fifth, the 4-5 choice engaged the leader in and out of the 1:24.2 three-quarters, employing the same MO as a week ago.

However, she was repelled this time around as Hot List took a length lead into the lane. Ocean’s Motion had ducked inside for the drive, but she wasn’t the problem. It was a third-over Don’t Point At getting to the leader late. She whipped a stubborn Hot List by a half-length in 1:53. Ocean’s Motion earned the bottom of the ticket, with Southwind Jazmin and Ace of Pace (Jordan Stratton) grabbing the remainder.

For fourth choice Don’t Point At, a 6-year-old daughter of At Point Blank trained by Noel Daley for owner William Weaver III, it was her second win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $111.50, with the triple returning $1,312.

The week’s featured trot was a handy win for the 3-2 favorite Looking Hanover. Leaving from post No. 5, he two-moved to the lead, getting by Mymomsablizzard (Larry Stalbaum) right at the :28.2 opening quarter. From there, a :57.2 half and 1:26.1 three-quarters. Affirmed Action (Jason Bartlett) came first-up and tucked third after Hurrikanebiggeorge (Brennan) backed up, leaving Celebrity Bluechip (Kakaley) to pick up that gauntlet.

Meanwhile, Looking Hanover owned a length-and-a-half lead before winning by a comfy length-and-three-quarters in 1:55.1. Affirmed Action earned the place battle over Mymomsablizzard, with last week’s winner, a from-last-this-week Sugar Queen Gabby (Mark MacDonald) and Celebrity Bluechip coming away with the minor spoils.

For Looking Hanover, an 8-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding trained by Edwin Gannon Jr. for co-owners Dawn Marie Gannon and Yannick Gingras, it was his first win a pair of ’13 tries. The exacta paid $28.40 the triple returned $142 and the superfecta paid $1,049.