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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s Friday night $35,000 co-featured Open Handicaps — one for distaff pacers and one for any trotter — were won by a pocketed Set Me Up (George Brennan, $6) and a two-move Melady’s Monet (Jason Bartlett, $6.10).

The week’s fairer-sex feature was strictly a two-speed number, with slight 2-1 favorite Set Me Up — in play from post position No. 4 — grabbing the first lead before surrendering to Scandalous Hanover (Brian Sears). That one threw down early weigh stations of :28.1 and :58.1 as longshot Simple Saver N (Eric Carlson) tried it first-up.

Mike Lizzi photo

Set Me Up was a winner in 1:54 for driver George Brennan.

A brisk :27.3 third quarter (1:25.4) dispatched that challenge as Scandalous Hanover owned a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane. However, Set Me Up edged in and edged past, winning by a head in 1:54. Coffee Addict (Dan Dube) rallied well for third, with ground-savers Seafood Annie (Larry Stalbaum) and Keystone Wanda (Brent Holland) rounding out the payees.

For Set Me Up, a 5-year-old daughter of Shark Gesture co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi, it was her seventh win in 30 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $22.40, with the triple (three wagering favorites in order) returning $82.

The week’s marquee trot saw Melady’s Monet, assigned post No, 7, leave into a comfy three-hole. It was Andie Sophia (Dan Dube) leading through intervals of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:26.2, with Melady’s Monet having taken out past the half and about to wear that one down.

Melady’s Monet secured the lead in and out of the final turn, then widened. The final margin was 2-1/2 lengths in 1:54.4. Second went to Andie Sophia, with 7-5 choice Bambino Glide (Sears), Alternat Thursdays (Brennan) and Fortunista (Carlson) settling for the remainder.

Second choice Melady’s Monet, a 5-year-old Revenue S gelding owned by Melady Enterprises and trained by Kevin McDermott, is now 5-for-23 this season. The exacta paid $24.20, the triple returned $103.50 and the superfecta paid $535.

Saturday’s stakes-stuffed program includes the $500,000 Yonkers Trot, $500,000 Messenger Stakes, $250,000 International Trot Preview (1-1/4 miles), $150,854 Lady Maud and $124,590 Hudson Filly Trot. Those races comprise a $20,000 guaranteed Pick-5 pool and there’s also a T-shirt giveaway (while supplies last).