by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Somewhere In L A (Jason Bartlett, $4.80) and Tight Lines (Jeff Gregory, $8.10) shared the Saturday night (June 9) spotlight, winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $44,000 Open Handicaps.

Katy Gazzini photo

Somewhere In L A collected his fifth win from 12 seasonal starts on Saturday evening at Yonkers Raceway.

Favored Somewhere In L A, remanded behind the eight-ball in week’s adult pace, was parked past a :26.4 opening quarter-mile to make the lead. He did so around Always at My Place (George Brennan), with Soho Wallstreet A (Eric Goodell) away third.

Somewhere In L A found a :56.1 intermission before invading Barimah A (Brent Holland) moved from fifth. The one had an eventful effort, looking around while on a line, then seemingly stalled before getting in gear again.

Meanwhile, the leader remained so in and out of a 1:24 three-quarters, the advantage a length entering the lane. Always at My Place was able to extricate himself from the cones, but missed in ‘Somewhere’s’ season’s-best 1:52. Barimah A was a good third, with Pacing Major N (Jordan Stratton) and Theartofconfusion A (Dan Dube) grabbing the remainder.

For Somewhere In L A, a 7-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding co-owned by D’Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, T L P & Gandolfo Stables and trained by Rich Banca, it was his fifth win in a dozen seasonal starts. The exacta paid $16.20, the triple returned $88 and the superfecta paid $454.50.

The weekly trotting feature had a different look early when 9-10 choice Seasoned Saint (Bartlett) broke before the start and wound up a ‘did not finish,’ appearing injured.
Bluebird Jesse (Holland) made the lead (:28, :57.4), pocketing 82-1 bombardier Fearless Man (Goodell).

Tight Lines, away third from post position No. 4, moved to the leader down the backside the second time. He was the new at the 1:25.3 three-quarters, widening to a 1-3/4 lengths in and out of the final turn.

From there, Tight Lines closed the sale, winning by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:54…fastest local trot mile of the season. Bluebird Jesse easily held second, with Andy Ray (Dube), Uva Hanover (Brian Sears) and DW’s NY Yank (Brennan) relegated to the minors.

For second choice Tight Lines, a 5-year-old Yankee Glide gelding co-owned by his trainer/driver, Jesmeral Stable and William Richardson, it was his first board finish in four 2018 tries.

The exacta paid $42.20, the triple returned $234.50 and the superfecta paid $2,099.