Yonkers, NY — Semi Tough began his 7-year-old campaign with a 1:53.1 win in the featured $40,000 Open Handicap Pace on Monday night (Jan. 16) at Yonkers Raceway as its 2023 meet got underway.

The event was supposed to be headlined by Crunch Time A, who has gone four-for-four in the U.S. thus far, but he was scratched sick, leaving a field of four to contest the Open Handicap.

Starting from post three in the abbreviated field, Semi Tough and driver Yannick Gingras went right to the lead, posted fractions of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:24.3, and got separation on the other horses on the final turn.

Nandolo N, piloted by Jason Bartlett, was sent first-over out of third approaching three-quarters and did chip into Semi Tough’s margin through the stretch, but it wasn’t enough, as Semi Tough held sway by a neck.

Semi Tough delivered as the favorite in the first Open Handicap Pace of the 2023 Yonkers Raceway season. Mike Lizzi photo.

Lou’s Sweetrevenge (Matt Kakaley) and Feelin Western (Jim Marohn Jr.) completed the order.

It was the 24th career win for Semi Tough, a Somebeachsomewhere gelding trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Frank Baldachino, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby and Weaver Bruscemi. Semi Tough, who is rapidly nearing the $1-million mark in lifetime earnings, paid $3.50 to win as the 3-5 favorite and was atop a $6.10 exacta.

In other news from the program, the 50-cent Pick-5 saw a hefty return of $4,695.25 after Semi Tough was the only wagering favorite to deliver during the sequence.

Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-through-Friday live racing schedule with post time at 7 p.m. (EST).