by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — For all his success, Sempre Pronto has done much of his work at Yonkers Raceway under the radar.
Saturday night’s (November 13) $15,000 Open Handicap Pace was sort of the season in microcosm, as he minded his business for much of the mile and one-sixteenth before charging home and grabbing the gusto.
Sempre Pronto and driver Marcus Johansson (three winners on the 12 race card) were generously assigned post position two in the eight horse field. The pair found themselves third early on as 6-5 favorite Future Falcon N (Mark Beckwith) made the lead from Am I Next A (Greg Merton) after a contested :27.3 opening quarter-mile.
Future Falcon N then rolled along through a :56.4 half and 1:25.3 three-quarters, in the interim dismissing timid, first-over pressure from a parked-from-the-start Joshua (Dan Dube).
The leader owned a length cushion entering the lane when Am I Next A elected to angle out from the pocket. He was not the problem; Sempre Pronto, who inherited the passing lane, was.
The five-year-old son of Northern Luck engaged Future Falcon N through the stretch before going on to a three-quarter length decision. He paced the added distance in a solid 2:02.3. Future Falcon N held second, clearly ahead of Am I Next A, while Our Galvinator A (Jim Marohn) and Chad Lefleur (Jeff Gregory) also made small fees.
Sempre Pronto, owned by Joseph Petrera and trained by Eldo Leonelli, paid $8.10 as the second choice. His ninth victory in 36 seasonal starts led a $19.20 exacta and $135 triple.
The winner, now with two victories, two seconds and a third in his last five (Open Handicap) tries, is rapidly closing in on a second consecutive six-figure season ($96,850 to date).
The Raceway currently features live racing Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, with first post at 7:40 p.m.
Evening simulcasting (both harness and select thoroughbred) accompanies all live programs, while afternoon simulcasting continues around the NYRA schedule.