by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Rank outsider Tight Lines (Jeff Gregory, $62.50) was the ground-saving star Sunday morning (Dec. 3), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $40,000 Open Handicap Trot.
With just a seven-horse field, the weekly trotting feature went as the late-morning opener, before the seven ‘French’ trots.
Chris Brokate photo
Tight Lines wins his 10th race of the season from 24 trips to the post.
In play from post position five, Tight Lines actually surrendered an early pocket to lone lass Charmed Life (Yannick Gingras), as both sat behind just-over-even-money favorite Melady’s Monet (Jason Bartlett). Meanwhile, Rubber Duck (Joe Bongiorno) found himself in no man’s land and rushed up to prompt early intervals of :27.3 and :56.4.
Going toward the 1:25.4 three-quarters, Rubber Duck was retreating. Melady’s Monet, meanwhile, owned a length lead into the lane before Charmed Life pulled the pocket. The lady went past Melady Monet, but a cone-skimming Tight Lines went past both of ‘em.
Tight Lines defeated Charmed Life by a half-length in 1:55.1. Melady’s Monet faded to third. The minors went to DW’s NY Yank (Jordan Stratton) and Muscles On Fire (Brent Holland).
For Tight Lines, a 4-year-old Yankee Glide gelding co-owned by his trainer/driver, Jesmeral Stable and William Richardson, it was his 10th win in 24 seasonal starts.
The exacta paid $164.50, with the triple returning $530.
Those sagacious handicappers who unearthed Tight Lines and Taco Tuesday (Dan Dube, $41.80) in the $26,000, second race trot took home a season-high $1,279 daily double as last Sunday’s early double paid $1,162.
This ‘New York, New York Double’ saw a winning combination of 4-Dream Pauline (Aqueduct’s 3rd race) and 3-Gruden (Yonkers’ 5th race) returned $13.30 for every correct $1 wager. Total pool was $4,927.
Sunday matinees, along with the ‘New York, New York Double,’ conclude Dec. 17 (post time TBA). It’s the final program of the season.