Tobago Cays wins Yonkers feature
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| Mike Lizzi Photo |
| Tobago Cays won the Yonkers feature in 1:52. |
Yonkers, NY--Tobago Cays (Jim Pantaleano) unleashed a decisive move by the half Saturday night en route to winning Yonkers Raceway's $33,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Leaving from post 3, Tobago Cays was away fourth as Lucky Man (Larry Stalbaum) and Silent Swing (Brent Holland) played leapfrog on the lead. The former retook from the latter just after a 26.4 opening quarter-mile.
As the field approached the 55.3 intermission, Tobago Cays approached the leader. He went right on by Lucky Man, then took off to the tune of a 26.4 third quarter (1:22.2).
That sprint gave Tobago Cays a five-length lead at the three-quarters and 6-½ lengths turning for home. He then finished it off, prevailing by 3-½ lengths in 1:52.
Corky Baran (Eric Goodell) rallied for a non-threatening second as the 19-10 favorite, with Here We Go Again (Jason Bartlett), last week's winner, Foreign Officer (Jordan Stratton) and Sea Venture (George Brennan) completing the cashers.
Tobago Cays, a regally bred (two Harness Horses of the Year in Rocknroll Hanover and Bunny Lake) 5-year-old owned by Brian Nixon and trained by Ross Croghan, returned $9.70 (fourth choice) for his first win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $31.20, with the triple returning $139.50.
-Frank Drucker
BUFFALO RACEWAY
Terlingua, a 5-year-old Artiscape gelding out of the Western Hanover mare Western City, won the $10,000 Open Pace in a season’s best 1:58.2, on a fast track, for owners, Super Mile LLC of Blasdell N.Y., at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night (Feb. 4). It was the second win this season for Terlingua, who was moving up in class. Terlingua ($5.50), leaving from post 6, and driven by last year’s national dash leading reinsman Dan Noble, settled in fourth, as Fantasypan (Jim Dunn) hit the quarter-mile marker in 28.2. Eventual third-place finisher Redford Hall (Kevin Cummings) took the lead at the half in 58.1. Terlingua and My Gift To You (Shawn McDonough), both made a strong backside brush, which saw My Gift To You hit the three-quarter marker in 1:28.2. A thrilling stretch drive ensued with Terlingua edging My Gift To You by one-half length at the finish line. Trained by John Mungillo, the $5,000 winning share of the purse put Terlingua’s season bankroll at $9,790, and $134,926 lifetime.
CAL EXPO
Winners-Over trotters, racing for a purse of $4,500, were featured at Cal Expo on Saturday night (Feb. 4), on which Putoneonnetformom was well-rated to his 21st career victory, winning in 1:57.4. The gelding trotted an effortless 28.3 third quarter while reaching the three-quarter-mile marker on top by 2-3/4 lengths, timed in 1:28.2. Bred and owned by Jeff, Gerald and Diana Cimini, the Rocky Stidham-trained trotter cruised to a very easy three-length triumph ($3.00) for driver James Kennedy. Meringue finished in second, and Giles L S Hanover (Steve Wiseman) finished two lengths farther back, in third.