Justice Hall takes Yonkers feature

An intriguing $30,000 Open Handicap Trot Friday night at Yonkers Raceway found a pair of  interlopers leaving from the two outside venues. Railroad Ron (Stephane Bouchard, post seven) and Justice Hall (Jim Meittinis, post eight) may have been just six-for-46 between thiem season, but each was  paying his way.

At the outset, it was last week's winner--and this week's 8-5 choice--Winnin' Image (Greg Grismore), widest among an quartet of leavers. He grabbed the advantage around The Federalist (Pat Lachance) right at the :28.2 opening quarter-mile.

Winnin' Image led through a :58.3 intermission and 1:28.2 three-quarters, with Stan (Jordan Stratton) tiring first-over and 27-1 rank outsider Get Packin' (Jim  Pantaleano) going wide around his tow. Winnin' Image was all but done turning for home.

Get Packin' made the lead early the lane, but could not finish it off. Ralroad Ron raced in place from third-over.   

Justice Hall, meanwhile, was stacked widest of all, outgaming The Federalist by a half-length in 1:58.1. Enjoy the Victory (Larry Stalbaum), Get Packin'  and Railroad Ron completed the cashers.

For Justice Hall, a 6-year-old son of Garland Lobell co-owned (with Mary Katz) and trained by Kevin Thomas, it was his third win in 24 seasonal starts  (career earnings now over $750,000). He returned $16.40 (fourth choice), leading a $62 exacta and $449.50 triple. Thomas and Meittinis last teamed here with  Yonkers Trot finalist Cayenne Turbo

Friday night's co-featured, $30,000 Filly and Mare Open 'Cap Pace saw Best Chance Hanna (Lachance) do it the hard way.

Leaving from post five, she fought the first-up battle against longshot leader Jann's Bid (Stratton). That one led through fractions of :27.4, :57.4 and  1:26 before wearing out her welcome off the final turn.

Best Chance Hanna grinded by early stretch, then held off Sherry (Stalbaum) by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:54.3...matching his season's and life-best. Stonebridge Kisses (Bouchard) at 1-2 was given way too much work to do and rallied for third, with Jann's Bid and Omen Hanover (Eric Abbatiello) grabbing the small change. .  

Best Chance Hanna, a 4-year-old daughter of Western Hanover trained by Lachance for Z Tam Racing, paid $9.70 (second choice) for her seventh win 24 '07 tries. The exacta paid $62.50, with the triple good for $171. (Yonkers) 

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