by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Eight-holers The Real One (drawn) and Luminosity (assigned) both overcame their posts Saturday night (June 20), winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-features.
Sean Hamrock photo
The Real One was a 1:52.3 winner in the Open Handicap Pace.
The Real One (Pat Lachance, $37.80) prevailed in the $75,000 Open Handicap Pace, which doubled as the Marvin Kaufman Memorial. It was The Real One catching a live ride behind Flem N Em N (Jason Bartlett, five winners during the 12-race card), then storming by.
The Real One defeated a tough-trip-but-resurgent Domethatagain (Dan Dube) by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.3, with Flem N Em N, Rock On Moe (Jordan Stratton) and Sky Is The Limit (Eric Goodell) settling for the remainder. The 13-10 choice, MrErlean (Tyler Buter), broke early — bothering Domethatagain — and finished sixth.
For seventh choice The Real One, a 5-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by his driver for owner Helene Filion, it was his fourth win (second consecutive) in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $238, with the triple returning $889.
The race was named for Marvin Kaufman, a longtime Standardbred owner and SOA of New York director who passed away in January. His family and friends were on hand to make the winner’s circle presentation.
Luminosity (George Brennan, $4.90), as the 7-5 fave, made it four wins in his last five tries, handily taking the $42,000 marquee trot in 1:55.3. Rock Of Cashel (Goodell) was second-up and second home, beaten 1-1/2 lengths, with Somebody AS (Dube), E R Ellie (Stratton) and Crazy About Pat (Mark MacDonald) completing the cashers.
For Luminosity, a 5-year-old Cash Hall gelding co-owned as Burke Racing by trainer Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi, it was his eighth win in 18 ’15 tries. The exacta paid $49.20, with the triple returning $212.
The Raceway’s live season continues Monday night (7:10 p.m.), Tuesday matinee (1 p.m.), then Thursday through Saturday (all at 7:10 p.m.). Note Sunday matinees are done until November. Evening simulcasting accompanies all night programs, with afternoon simulcasting available daily.