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

Yonkers, NY — Favored Melady’s Monet (Jason Bartlett, $4.60) was just barely good enough Sunday morning (Jan. 21), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $50,000 Open Handicap Trot. The field of seven (down from nine after a couple of defections) went as the opener and the first of seven ‘French’ trots.

Chris Brokate photo

Melady’s Monet won his second start of the season by a nose.

His eight-hole now a six-hole after those scratches, Melady’s Monet made the first lead, unimpeded by a breaking Tight Lines (Jeff Gregory). Melady’s Monet found a :29.4 opening quarter-mile before briefly giving it up to Super Manning (Jordan Stratton),

The fave wanted no part of the pocket, so he retook prior to the :59.1 half. Cash Me Out (Eric Goodell) then moved from fifth, just about getting even with Melady’s Monet by the 1:30.1 three-quarters.

Disposing of that rival around the 1:58.4 milepost, Melady’s Monet opened a 1-3/4 length lead into the lane, and needed all of it.

A ground-saving Moneycounts De Vie (Matt Kakaley) found room up the cones, surged, but the 18-1 rank outsider missed by a nose. Melady’s Monet found paydirt in time, getting the 1-1/4 miles in 2:27.4.

Third went to Rock of Cashel (Brent Holland), with Dog Gone Lucky (catch-driver Dan Dube) and Cash Me Out settling for the remainder.

For Melady’s Monet, a 9-year-old Revenue S gelding owned by Melady Enterprises and trained by Kevin McDermott, it was his first win in a pair of seasonal starts. The exacta paid $43.20, with triple returning $229.50.

Sunday’s ‘New York, New York Double’ offered a winning combination of 5-Control Group (Aqueduct’s third race) and 3-Royal Bachelor (Yonkers’ fifth race) paid $11.80 for every correct $1 wager. Total pool was $5,942.