Just another Friday night for Manzi and Cito

Unless you happen to be driver Cat Manzi and/or trainer Csrl Cito, Jr., these sort of Friday night theme stories would probably border on the boring.

For Manzi and Cito, these are the sort of reruns they can live with, as stablemates American Lane (trot) and Nip N Attack (fillies and mares pace) once again took care of Yonkers Raceway business in the $31,000 co-featured Open Handicaps.

American Lane made it four consecutive (eight hole) featured trot wins, toying with his seven rivals, in 1:58. He stepped around Indiana Hall (Pat Berry), secured the lead before the first two furlongs and was ready for yet another closeup.

Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory), the 4-5 favorite, challenged but could not reach. American Lane led through intervals of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:28.1 before widening to a couple of lengths at the wire. Beach Nut Brand was the bridesmaid, with Indiana Hall, Pablo Angus (Dan Cappello, Jr.) and Rushmore Hanover (Brent Holland) completing the cashers.

For American Lane, a 7-year-old Primrose Lane cash-cow gelding co-owned by David Scharf and Jerry Silva, he returned $4.70 as the second choice, for his fourth win in a half-dozen season’s starts. The Exacta paid $11.80, with the Triple paying $66.50.

Nip N Attack also made short work of her assigned outside impost, drilling the distaff derby by that same two-length margin.

She went up and around last week's winner, J K Pure Pearl (Jason Bartlett), then threw down zippy fractions of :27.3, 56.4 and 1:25.3. Nip N Attack stopped her timer in 1:55.2, with J K Pure Pearl, Elusive Prey (Jack Baggitt, Jr.), Binions (Greg Grismore) and Omen Hanover (Eric Abbatiello) also making money.

Symphony in Motion (Brent Holland), the 9-5 choice, didn't leave and didn't have a chance, finishing a non-factor sixth.

For Nip N Attack, a 5-year-old daughter of On the Attack co-owned by Keith Motusesky along with Manzi's better half, Ellen, she paid $11.00 as the third choice for her first third victory in six season’s starts. The victor led an $32.80 Exacta and $268.00 Triple.

And then there was the curious case of Jordan Stratton.

Stratton, who came into the program needing just one win for 1,000 in his brief driving career, waited until the last of the bakers' dozen to get it. The 21-year-old went the distance in the $19,000 pacing event with Iwannabesedated ($6.00), in 1:54.4. Jody Reidel co-owns with birthday boy Lester Gelardi, Jr. and trains the 8-year-old Real Artist gelding.

Stratton, greeted by friends and family in the winner's circle, received a congratulatory sign -- though the call from the White House was iffy.

Friday night also began the 2009 Yonkers stakes season, with four, $10,000 divisions of the Hopeful Pacing Series for 3-year-old fillies. The winners were:

• Dream's Bar (by Dream Away); owner-trainer Leah Vandervort/driver Bill Vandevort, Jr.; (life-best) 1:59.3/$2.80;
• Uma Hanover (by McArdle); co-owers Landres, Frank, Sanders, Dicker/trainer Don Niccum/driver Jeff Gregory; (first life win) 2:00.3/$4.10;
• Jordan's Jewell (by Mantese), co-owners Paganelli, Paganelli, MacLean and Daddario/trainer Matt Medeiros/driver Jason Bartlett; 1:59.1/$2.50; and
• Riches To Rags (by Richess Hanover); co-owner Jim Meade and George Bonomo/trainer Mark Ford/driver Ryan Anderson; 1:58.4/$3.80.(Yonkers)