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

Yonkers, NY — A pocketed Wings of Royalty (Steve Smith, $17) and a first-up Melmerby Beach (Dan Dube, $12.40) tickled the twine Saturday night (Oct. 1) winning Yonkers Raceway’s first-of-the-month $45,000 co-featured Open Handicaps.

Chris Brokate photo

Wings Of Royalty parlayed a perfect trip into a victory at Yonkers Raceway.

Wings of Royalty worked out a cozy trip from the post position three, nestled in behind a four-wide-early Melady’s Monet (Jason Bartlett) in the week’s marquee trot. The 3-4 choice led through intervals of :27.1, :57.1 and 1:26, hounded by Money Maven (Brent Holland) entering the lane. ‘Melady’ put away that rival, but was beaten up the inside by a pair of others. Wings of Royalty whipped E R Ellie (Jordan Stratton) by a half-length in 1:55.1, with Melady’s Monet tiring to third. Luminosity (George Brennan) and Money Maven rounded out the payees.

For fourth choice Wings of Royalty, a 4-year-old son of RC Royalty owned by Ray Campbell Jr. and trained by George Ducharme, it was his fifth win 14 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $143.50, with the triple returning $512.

As for Melmerby Beach, he moved from fourth in the weekly pacing feature. He moved to challenge Winds of Change (Holland), who had quarter-moved around Lucan Hanover (Eric Goodell). The leader (:27.2, :56.3, 1:24.1) was dueled into submission in and out of the final turn, with Melmerby Beach taking over and holding sway. He defeated a second-up, slight 2-1 fave Polak A (Joe Bongiorno) by three-quarter of a length. Dream Out Loud N (Tyler Buter) was a ground-saving third, with Mach It So (Bartlett) and Winds of Change settling for the remainder. The cashers were separated by just a 1-1/2 lengths, while the entire octet was divided by just 3-1/4 lengths.

For fourth choice Melmerby Beach, a 5-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere owned and trained by Ettore Annunziata, he’s now five-for-32 this season. The exacta paid $100, the triple returned $400 and the superfecta paid $1,511.

In between the co-features, out popped Americanprimtime (Stratton, $7.20), who beat up his rivals by seven lengths in the $35,000 4-Year-Old Open Handicap Pace. The time of 1:50.1 matched the all-age track record (Crombie A, Forty Five Red, Limelight Beach and Go Daddy Go).

The son of American Ideal is trained by Rick Dane Jr. for Rock & Roll Stable.