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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s pair of Friday night $35,000 co-featured Open Handicaps — for distaff pacers and trotters of all ranks and files — were won by a down-the-road Keeper’s Destiny (George Brennan, $6.10) and a pocket-sitting Looking Hanover (Brian Sears, $4.00).

Keeper’s Destiny was a narrow winner in a time of 1:53.2.

In play from what became penultimate post position No. 6 (the result of an eight hole defection), Keeper’s Destiny made the lead around Quicksilvercandy A (Larry Stalbaum) before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.

From there, it was a :56.4 intermission before even-money favorite Krispy Apple (Sears) — who had wedged into an early five hole — was out and moving. She turned up the volume in and out of a 1:25 three-quarters, but Keeper’s Destiny was not in a giving mood.

She rebuffed the people’s choice from that point, winning a match race through the lane by a neck in 1:53.2. Third went to a closing Don’t Blame Her (Joe Bongiorno), with Quicksilvercandy A and Argument Hanover (Jason Bartlett) picking at the post-holiday leftovers.

For second choice Keeper’s Destiny, a 6-year-old daughter of Intrepid Seelster owned by Merlin Howse and trained by Casie Coleman (also the co-breeders), it was her eighth win in 27 seasonal starts (career cash now over $513,000). The exacta paid $14, with the triple returning $38.

Justin Grasso photos

Looking Hanover won the top Yonkers trot in a time of 1:56.

The week’s featured trot saw Aisling (Brennan) two-move to the lead and throw down seemingly-comfy intervals of :28.3, :57.3 and 1:26.3. Looking Hanover was perched in the two hole from post No. 5, while Mystical Starlight tried it first-up from sixth.

Entering the lane, Aisling had a 1-1/2 length lead, but could not close the sale. Looking Hanover ducked in and prevailed, winning by a half-length in 1:56. It was a heater for second between a tiring Aisling and a cone-skimming, 32-1 rank outsider Rookie Mistake (Cat Manzi), with Mystical Starlight and Celebrity Bluechip (Bartlett) grabbing the remainder.

For favored Looking Hanover, a 7-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding trained by Edwin Gannon, Jr. for co-owners Dawn Marie Gannon and Yannick Gingras, it was his third win in 21 ’12 starts. The exactas paid $29 (Rookie Mistake second) and $8.40 (Aisling second), the triples returned $117.50 (Rookie Mistake second, Aisling third) and $76.50 (Aisling second, Rookie Mistake third) and the superfectas paid $638 and $348 (again, with Rookie Mistake second and Aisling third).

The Raceway continues its normal five night per week live schedule, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 p.m. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.