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 open trotters –were won by a pocket-sitting Krispy Apple (Brian Sears, $3.30) and a second-over Sand Wyndham (Daniel Dube, $12.40).

Krispy Apple was a 1:53 winner in the Mares Open.

In what was essentially a match race from the get-go, Don’t Blame Her (Joe Bongiorno) and 3-5 favorite Krispy Apple were in play from post positions four and five, respectively. Don’t Blame Her made the lead, with Krispy Apple slipping in behind.

After a :28 opening quarter-mile and :56.4 intermission, Feeling You (Jason Bartlett) — who had found en early seat — made her second move. However, she couldn’t sustain that bid in and out of a 1:25 three-quarters, with Don’t Blame Her taking a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane.

That’s when the people’s preference went in and went by, widening to 2-1/4 lengths at the wire in 1:53. Stormunn (Jordan Stratton), Queen Of Royalty (Brent Holland) and last week’s victress, Keeper’s Destiny (George Brennan), rounded out the payees.

For Krispy Apple, a 4-year-old daughter of Western Ideal co-owned by Bamond Racing and Joe Davino and trained by PJ Fraley, it was her sixth win in 25 seasonal starts (career cash now over $800,000). The exacta paid $9.70, with the triple returning $86.

Justin Grasso photos

Sand Wyndham captured the Open Trot in a time of 1:56.3.

The week’s featured trot saw Brando’s Muscle Man (Brennan), from post seven, lay down the law through early intervals of :28 and :58.1. Pocketed was Great Emancipator (Sears), while tepid 2-1 choice Big Sky Storm (Stratton) was first-up. That one towed Sand Wyndham — leaving from the five hole — into the fray toward the 1:27.2 three-quarters.

It was Brando’s Muscle Man with a 1-1/2 length lead turning for home, but it was Sand Wyndham with the momentum. He rolled past, winning by his own 1-1/2 lengths in 1:56.3. Brando’s Muscle Man saved second over a from-last Tober (Bartlett), with Great Emancipator and Big Sky Storm grabbing the small change.

For fourth-choice Sand Wyndham, a 7-year-old son of Pegasus Spur owned by Yves Sarrazin and trained by Rene Allard, it was his seventh win in 31 2012 tries. The exacta paid $69.50, the triple returned $251 and the superfecta $1,022.