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

YONKERS, NY – Levy Eve at Yonkers Raceway offered the usual pair of $35,000 Open Handicaps for trotters and distaff pacers.

The week’s featured trot found the classy Grain of Truth lasting on the lead. With Stephane Bouchard doing the honors for trainer (and usual driver) Ray Schnittker, the Truth was stretched—at least through a :28.2 opening quarter-mile.

Leaving from post position No. 7, he worked around Lemon Pepper (Pat Berry) to secure the lead, and then rated a 59-second intermission.

The lone lass in the lineup, KD Girl (Jeff Gregory), moved first-up from fourth, engaging Grain of Truth toward the 1:28.3 three-quarters.

The gelding and the gal took their battle to the lane, where Grain of Truth—showing no chivalry whatsoever—refused to let KD Girl by. Grain of Truth prevailed by a hard-fought head in a season’s-best 1:57.2.

Beach Nut Brand (Tim Tetrick) rallied for third, beaten 3/4 of a length from his assigned eight-hole. Adonis B (Tyler Stillings) and Lemon Pepper also made Mother’s Day money.

Grain of Truth, a 6-year-old son of Self Possessed co-owned by Charles and Giorgan Iannazzo, returned $5.10 as the 3-2 wagering favorite. His second win in 10 seasonal starts led a $23.60 exacta and $133.50 triple.

While the Open ‘Cap Trot was won on the front, the Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace was a closer’s club.

After Laura Lane N (Berry) put up ambitious fractions of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:25.3, she was done off the final turn.

Tactical Rein N (Pat Lachance) came first-up, then held off the second-over Percee Angus (Greg Grismore) by a head in 1:54.1. That effort was more than three seconds faster than Tactical Rein N’s previous ’07 best.

The runner-up, last week’s winner, this week’s tepid 2-1 favorite and a confirmed front-end specialist, had tried to leave from post No. 6, but was forced to take back after several inside entities had the same idea.

Whambam N grabbed the bottom of the ticket, with Sentbytheangels (Eric Goodell) and Let’s Imagine (Tony Morgan) completing the cashers.

Tactical Rein N, an 8-year-old Down Under daughter of Road Machine, returned $6.50 (second choice) for her third win in 16 ’07 efforts. Lachance trained the victress for MJGB Racing Stables.

The exacta paid $25.20, with the triple worth $114.

While Tetrick didn’t win either of the night’s co-features (he had no drive in the distaff derby), he did get his picture taken after half of the night’s 10 races. North America’s leading dash-winning driver won five races—including the first four—from just seven sojourns.