Gregory, Harder bring out brooms at Yonkers

Jeff Gregory as driver and Mark Harder as trainer completed a sweep of Yonkers Raceway's pair of  $37,000 Open Handicaps Friday night.

 

The week's marquee trot found Shoeless White Sox--already owner of the fastest local mile of the season--in the mix early. Assigned post position three, he worked his way over pole-sitting Armbro Barrister (Steve Smith) before a :28.2 opening fraction. He then refused to give up the baton to Keystone invader Speed Bomb (Jordan Stratton), prompting a quick :57.1 half mile.

 

All the while, 6-5 choice Master Pine (Jason Bartlett) was waiting second-over. He moved three deep going toward the 1:26.3 three-quarters, but  Shoeless White Sox didn't get the memo.

 

"Shoeless" was far from gutless, fighting off the fave by a length-and-a-half in 1:56.  Last week's winner, Hurrikanebiggeorge (Stephane Bouchard), Victor's Bicky (Cat Manzi) and Force Nine (Jim Pantaleano) grabbed the remainder of the coinage.

 

For Shoeless White Sox, a 5-year-old homebred son of Mr. Lavec owned by Chris Alexander, he returned $8.30 (second choice) for his fifth win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $26.60, with the triple returning $96. 

 

The weekly Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace saw Symphony In Motion eschew an early seat, then finish what she started.

 

Leaving from post position five as the odds-on choice, Symphony In Motion moved around Mach You and Me (Jason Bartlett). She gained the lead before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile, then found a :56.1 intermission. Western Graduate (Pantaleano) came to play going toward the 1:24.3 three-quarters, with the leader gruelingly disposing of her turning for home.

 

Mach You And Me took her shot in the passing the lane, but Symphony In Motion held sway by a head in 1:52.3. That effort matched the track record for aged mares, shared with five other lasses (most recently Southwind Tempo earlier this month). Western Graduate, Chris Cross (Manzi) and Soiree (Stratton) completed the cashers. 

 

For Symphony In Motion, a 6-year-old daughter of Bettor's Delight co-owned by  Joseph Jannuzzelli and Carol Demarch, she returned $3.10 for her seventh win in 16 '10 tries. The exacta paid $14.20, with the triple returning $42.60.

 

"Both horses had better posts than they've had in a while, so Mark and I decided to given them chances on the lead," Gregory said. "It is half-mile racing, and if you get a good assignment or draw, you have to take advantage." (Yonkers)