by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Favored Rubber Duck (Joe Bongiorno, $4.20) and Killer Martini (Jason Bartlett, $16.80) were the names above the marquee Saturday night (Feb. 3), winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $40,000 Open Handicaps.
Rubber Duck, from assigned post position three, stuffed lass NF Happenstance (Jack Parker Jr.) in behind early in the weekly adult-table trot. The race became a two-speed number, with Rubber Duck (:28, :56.4, 1:24.4, 1:56.2) holding sway.
Chris Brokate photo
Rubber Duck captures the featured trotting event at Yonkers on Saturday evening.
NF Happenstance pulled the pocket early to test the fave, but missed by a half-length. Melady’s Monet (Bartlett) rallied off a brutal trip for third, with Madhatter Blue Chip (Jordan Stratton) and Lily’s Swan Pond (George Brennan) rounding out the remainder.
For Rubber Duck, an 6-year-old Muscle Mass ridgling Alberta co-owned by Blain & Erna Corbeil and trained by Jennifer Bongiorno, it was his first win in a pair of seasonal starts. The exacta $10.60, with the triple returning $28.
The week’s pacing feature saw pole-assigned Killer Martini slip out down the backside to race second-over. He outgamed a cone-skimming Don’tcallmefrancis (Greg Merton) by a nose in 1:54. Dream Out Loud N (Dan Dube) put away pace-setting 2-1 choice Thisjetsabookin’ (Stratton), made the lead but faltered late.
That one missed by a head, with a season-debuting Christen Me N (Tim Tetrick) and Gokudo Hanover (Matt Kakaley) grabbing the minors. Christen Me N was done no favors when a parked-the-mile Orillia Joe (Brent Holland) backed up in front of him.
For Killer Martini, a 6-year-old Camluck gelding Alberta owned and trained by Ricky Bucci, it was—as the fifth choice–his first win in four ’18 tries. The exacta paid $112, the triple returned $447.50 and the superfecta paid $3,743.
Special Saturday props to Bongiorno (driver) and Bongiorno (trainer) for a three-win night, while Bucci and William Adamczyk each had a pair of training victories.
Sunday ‘French’ matinees return Feb. 25 (post time TBA).