Bartlett wins 3,000

'Twas the night before Yonkers Trot, and a rainy Yonkers Raceway offered a pair of $50,000 Open Handicaps on Friday night (Aug. 28). Yonkers' leading driver, Jason Bartlett, won three races, giving him an even 3,000 for his career.

The magic number came with the trotter Light Headed in the $37,000, 12th-race trot. Bartlett receives a congratulatory sign from the Raceway Saturday night, by which time the rain (hopefully) shall have stopped.

The weekly featured Trot was a matchup of the past couple of Yonkers Trot winners. Green Day (Cat Manzi), Yonkers Trot Class of 2007 and this group's 9-5 favorite, stepped around Armbro Barrister (Ray Schnittker) to take the baton before a 29.1 opening quarter-mile. He rated a 59.2 weigh station before Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory)--leaving from post 5--moved from fourth.

Green Day maintained the advantage at and through the 1:28 three-quarters, but the lead was evaporating in and out of the final turn. Beach Nut Brand continued his first-over forge, going by the leader, then beating him by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:58. Batalj Launcher (Jason Bartlett), Armbro Barrister and Dennis (Brian Sears, a Friday/Monday Yonkers' attendee) grabbing the small change.

As for last season's wild-finish Yonkers Trot champ, Napoleon, he and trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer were a non-factor seventh here leaving from post 7.

For Beach Nut Brand, a 7-year-old Branded gelding trained by Mark Harder for co-owners Stable 45 & Scott Kurzrok, he returned $8.30 (co-second  choice) for his seventh win in 26 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $21, with the triple returning $115.

In the Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace, Ramona Disomma (Greg Grismore, three consecutive winners Friday) prevailed from third-over in 1:55.3.

Twin B Tiara (Jim Pantaleano) worked her way to the lead around longshot pole-sitter Impressive Char (Billy Dobson) before a spiffy 27.4 first two furlongs. She found a 57.3 intermission when Guestimate (Sears) tried her luck pulling from third. That one towed 11-10 choice Still Electric (Bartlett) toward the 1:26.2 three-quarters.

All the while, Twin B Tiara clung to a tenuous lead turning for home, but her crown would be worn by someone else. Still Electric shed her carrier, grabbing a short, mid-stretch lead. Then, Ramona Disomma--leaving from post 5--moved widest and fastest of all, getting to the line by a neck.

Hannah Isabel (Pat Lachance) rallied for third, with Twin B Tiara and 79-1 outside starter Lightning Pleasure (Stephane Bouchard) completing the cashers.

For Ramona Disomma, a 4-year-old daughter of Pacific Rocket trained by Jake Hartline for Anatolia Racing Stable. She returned
 
$11.60 (third choice) for her seventh win in 25 '09 work nights. The exacts paid $31.60, with the triple returning $273.50.

Friday night's $55,000 final of the Empire City Claiming Series was won by Hard Hitter (Bartlett, $18) in 1:57.1.       

The 55th Yonkers Trot comes up this Saturday night with a purse of $670,774. Elimination winners Judge Joe (Ron Pierce, post 1) and  Broadway Bistro (Bartlett, post 8) lead a talented octet. The Trot is the 10th race of the 13-race card, with its companion event, the $327,985 Hudson Filly Trot,  goes as the seventh race. (Yonkers)

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