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

Yonkers, NY — A pair of down-the-roaders — Great Vintage (Dan Dube, $4) and Taco Tuesday (Jason Bartlett, $6.40)– were the Saturday night (May 6) standouts, winning Yonkers Raceway’s pair of $55,000 co-features.

Darragh Riordan photo

Great Vintage won by a nose over Blood Brother in the Open Pace.

Great Vintage started inside his rivals in the blind-draw Open Pace, then took it the distance (:27.2, 56.4, 1:24.4, 1:52), though not without an elongated scrum with Blood Brother (Bartlett). That one, having left into a three-hole, went after the leader in a big way.

It was a back-half match race, with Great Vintage holding sway by a determined nostril. Orillia Joe (Brent Holland) held third — beaten 3-1/2 lengths — with Roland N Rock (Jordan Stratton) and Te Kawau N (Brian Sears) also grabbing money.

For Great Vintage, a 9-year-old millionaire son of American Ideal trained by Jimmy Takter for co-owners his wife, Christina, John Fielding and a pair of Gorans (Anderberg and Falk), it was his first win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $9.20, with the triple returning $33.60.

Despite ‘losing’ the post position Nos. three through seven draw, Taco Tuesday gave nothing else a shot (:28.2, :57.2, 1:25.4, 1:54.2) in the Open Handicap Trot. The result was the fastest local trot mile of the season.

Springbank Sam N (Stratton) chased from the pocket, missing a length. It was more than six lengths back to eight-hole assignee Barn Doll (Jeff Gregory), with Showmeyourguns (Tyler Buter) and Pridecrest (Holland) settling for the minors. Red Hot Herbie (Dube), as the 11-10 fave, was an outrun sixth, beating just a pair of breakers.

For second choice Taco Tuesday, a 4-year-old Cantab Hall gelding owned by Vincent Laurenzo and trained by Andrew Harris (off a barn change), it was his fifth win in nine ’17 tries. The exacta (two wagering favorites) paid $7.30, with the triple returning $34.20.