Elusive Prey, American Lane in Yonkers Opens

A pair of favorites, American Lane (Dan Dube) and Elusive Prey (Stephane Bouchard), shared Yonkers Raceway's Friday night marquee by winning their respective $40,000 Open Handicaps.

American Lane won the weekly trotting feature, working out a pocket trip from post position six. He then outgamed both the first-up defending champ Likeabatoutahell (Bouchard) and the pace-setting Grain Of Truth (Jeff Gregory) in 1:56.1. The Bat had to settle for second this week, Grain Of Truth was third, with San Remo Kosmos (Greg Grismore) and Roman Holiday (Jordan Stratton) also netting appearance fees.

American Lane, a 6-year-old Primrose Lane gelding trained by Carl Cito, Jr. for co-owners David Scharf and Jerry Silva, prevailed by a  1-1/4 lengths for his 10th win in 29 seasonal starts. He paid $5.20, with the exacta returning $15.40 (both horses sent off at 8-5) and the triple good for $67.50.

Elusive Prey defended her distaff derby title, rolling from the six hole as the odds-on choice. She defeated Twin B Tiara (Grismore) by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:54.3. Miss Galvinator A (Pat Berry), Carousel Frame (Jim Pantaleano) and Western Graduate (Eric Abbatiello) earned the rest of the weekend spending money.

Elusive Prey, a 4-year-old daughter of Western Hanover, paid $2.90 for her sixth win (third consecutive) in 18 '08 tries. The  victress, trained by Kevin Johnson for co-owners Joe and Joann Thomson and Rebecca Williams, led a $16.20 exacta and $92 triple.

Friday night's $32,000 New York Bred Call For Rain Late Closer, with three $10,800 divisions for 3-year-old pacing fillies, went to Lesley's Jlo Belle (by Final Kid), owner Louis Talarico II/trainer Ray Van Dreason/driver Jason Bartlett, 1:57.2/$3.80; Mery Linny Lee (by Riverboat King), (lessees) Joe and Joann Thomson/trainer John Stark, Jr./driver Tony Morgan, 1:56.3/$8.90; and Four Starz Melody (by Sealed N Delivered)/owner Four Starzzz Stable/trainer Carmine Fusco/driver Dube, 1:55.4/$2.60. (Yonkers)

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