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

Yonkers, NY — A week after the 2018 Yonkers Trot, there was a renewal of the 2017 edition, complete with similar outcome. Top Flight Angel (Brian Sears, $17.20) two-moved from the eight-hole Saturday night (Sept. 8), to win Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $44,000 Open Handicap Trot.

Katy Gazzini photo

Top Flight Angle illustrates his affinity for Yonkers with another victory over that surface on Saturday evening.

He grinded his way up and over Yes Mickey (Jason Bartlett), just as he did in last season’s Trot. The margin was a nose when they went for a half-million-dollars then and a length here. The mile went in 1:55 after Yes Mickey’s intervals of :28.1, 57.3 and 1:25.4.

Third went to a belated Tight Lines (Jeff Gregory). Charmed Life (catch-driver Mark MacDonald) and Elysium Lindy (George Brennan) settled for the minors, while slight 2-1 choice Rose Run Sydney (Jim Marohn Jr.) jumped it off early.

For fourth choice Top Flight Angel, a 4-year-old son of Archangel owned by Legendary Standardbred Farm and trained by Julie Miller, it was his fourth win in 10 seasonal starts (career earnings over $614,000). The exacta paid $80 ($79.50 in the ’17 Trot), the triple returned $225 and the superfecta paid $1,413.

Saturday night’s $44,000 Open Handicap Pace saw pole-assigned Sunfire Blue Chip (MacDonald, $7.50) retake from 7-10 favorite Evenin’ of Pleasure (Joe Bongiorno), then win comfortably in 1:51.3 (off early subsections of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:23).

Back for his first visit in nearly three months, Sunfire Blue Chip defeated a first-up Theartofconfusion A (Sears) by 1-1/4 lengths with Evenin’ of Pleasure, Somewhere In L A (Bartlett) and Always At My Place (Brennan) coming away with the remainder.

For second choice Sunfire Blue Chip, an 8-year-old son of American Ideal trained by Jimmy Takter for co-owners Christina Takter, John & Jim Fielding, Brixton Medical and R A W Equine, it was his sixth win in 18 2018 tries (career earnings over $1.4 million). The exacta paid $37.60, the triple returned $105 and the superfecta paid $632.