Hurrikanebiggeorge makes landfall at Yonkers

Hurrikanebiggeorge (Stephane Bouchard) turned in the fastest mile of his trotting life--and the fastest of  Yonkers Raceway's trotting season--winning Friday night's co-featured $42,500 Open Handicap in 1:55.1.

Leaving from post position No. 6 (in one place after an inside defection), "Biggeorge" watched early as Batalj Launcher (Cat Manzi) stuffed Pembroke Prayer (Brandon Simpson) into an early seat. Then, Mater Pine (Jason Bartlett) move from third to command after a :28.1 opening quarter-mile.

However, Master Pine--who led at the :57.4 intermission--could not stave off the first-over, 9-5 choice in Shoeless White Sox (Jeff Gregory). That one was the third leader of the race before the 1:26.2 three-quarters,. but Hurrikanebiggeorge was relentless.

"Biggeorge" was taking bigger strides, prevailing by a neck in his own personal night to remember. Two-time defending champ Y F Little Guy (Jim Pantaleano), Batalj Launcher and Master Pine made appearance money.

For Hurrikanebiggeorge, a 4-year-old Tagliabue geldimg trained by John McDermott for Hurrikane Racing, he returned $14 (fourth choice) for his fifth win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $38.20, with the triple returning $134.50.

Little Mermaid N (Pantaleano) went from the straight draw straight to the winner's circle, outdrawing her foes and pouncing from the pocket in the $42,500 Filly and Mare Open Pace.

Tailing Twin B Tiara (Bouchard) through intervals of  :27.4, :57.3 and 1:25.4; "Mermaid" angled out. She was able to getting the jump on the  second-up, even-money favorite Symphony in Motion (Gregory), beating that one by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.1. Twin B Tiara, Cheyenne Trish (Brent Holland) and Ramona Disomma (Jordan Stratton) completed the cashers.

For Little Mermaid N, a 6-year-old Road Machine Down Under miss trained by Ettore Annunziata for owner Michael Spaccarelli, she returned $6.80 (second choice) for her fifth win in 23 '10 tries. The exacta paid $19.40, with the triple returning $73.

New York Sire Stakes highlight the next two racing nights.  The $280,752 Mike Cipriani Trot (3-year-old fillies in six divisions) goes Saturday night  and the $278,200 Hugh Grant Pace (3-year-old colts/geldings in five divisions) scheduled for Monday night.(Yonkers)