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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night (Nov. 21) $35,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace was won by a cone-skimming Robin Cruiser (Jordan Stratton, $15.40).

Sean Hamrock photo

Robin Cruiser was a 1:54.1 winner for driver Jordan Stratton.

Unhurried early from post position No. 6, he watched as slight 2-1 favorite Coffee Addict (Dan Dube) stepped around Jonsie Jones (Greg Merton). After early intervals of :27 and :56.3, Let’s Go Higher (Eric Carlson) moved from third. That one harassed the leader in and out of the 1:25.2 three-quarters.

Coffee Addict dealt with that interloper, taking a 1-1/4 length lead into the lane. However, she was about to give it up, leading to a blanket finish.

Robin Cruiser, fourth along the cones, dove deep inside and prevailed, whipping UF Dragon’s Rocket (Mark MacDonald, three winners Friday) by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.1. Last week’s victress, Rockaround Sue (Jason Bartlett), closed from last to grab third, with Coffee Addict and Jonsie Jones settling for the minor awards.

The five cashers were separated by a length and a half at the wire.

It was a change of tact for Robin Cruiser, who was snapped on the money in her last two starts at odds of 3-1 and 3-5.

For fifth choice Robin Cruiser, a 5-year-old homebred daughter of Yankee Cruiser owned by Pinske Stables and trained by Julie Miller, it was her eighth win in 29 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $125.50, the triple returned $510 and the superfecta paid $2,243.

Note that since no one hit Friday’s Pick-5, Saturday’s gimmick begins with a carryover of $2,093.98 (50 cent base wager, races five through nine).

The Raceway’s five program per week live schedule changes, with first post every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 p.m., and the third of six Sunday matinees (replacing Tuesday evenings) this weekend at 11 a.m. Evening simulcasting accompanies all nighttime programs, with afternoon simulcasting available daily.