Napoleon wins Yonkers Trot after Holiday Credit breaks

June 28, 2008

Napoleon took full advantage of someone else's Waterloo Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $605,854 Yonkers Trot in 1:57.1 when Holiday Credit broke stride near the wire.

Stephane Bouchard drove Napoleon, a son of Credit Winner, to a tight-quarters, head victory. Make it Happen (Ray Schnittker) flew home inside to just miss, while Big Apple Deli (John Campbell) was third, beaten a half-length.

The first jewel of the trotting Triple Crown was there for Holiday Credit, with Ron Pierce driving for trainer Jimmy Takter. The 17-10 favorite had engaged, then put away, Napoleon in and out of the final turn. However, Holiday Credit became rough and broke stride not far from the wire, and a mad scramble for the glory ensured.

Napoleon, under a vigorous Bouchard whip, found the wire just in time. Make it Happen, in tight as Napoleon bore in a bit to avoid the breaker, was beaten by the wire. Holiday Credit wound up fourth, but was disqualified to sixth for his transgression, Over Ruled (Mike Lachance, fifth placed fourth), Ace High Hall (Dave Miller, sixth placed fifth), rank outsider Di Manggio (Jeff Gregory) and Velocity Hall (Jason Bartlett) completed the order.

It was the pole-sitting Velocity Hall taking full advatantage of the open draw, stinging Napoleon before letting that one go. Napoleon--leaving from post position two, found a :28.2 quarter-mile and :58.2 intermission, but in the last turn he broke stride and took himself out of the race.

Over Ruled, driven by Lachance, took an early seat in front of Holiday Credit, before pulling and towing the fave into the fray. Napoleon was engaged by a three-deep Holiday Credit going toward the 1:27 three-quarters, then the latter seemingly put away the former.

Holiday Credit opened daylght in midstretch before picking a bad night to have a bad night.

"All he had to do was coast home," Pierce--15 years removed from his lone (American Winner) Trot victory--said, "He seemed a bit shaky early on, but when I moved him to the outside, he was better. I felt him losing it, and just couldn't get him to stay at it. It (stinks)."

"It's a gret honor," said Bouchard of winning the race with Napoleon. "I can't describe it. My older son (Oliver) up in Canada told me I was going to win the race, so I dedicate it to him."

It was the first Trot victory for Bouchard, Yonkers' five-time defending driving champion.

Napoleon, the 2007 NYSS frosh champ, is trained by Noel Daley for co-owners Larry Thomases, Sidney Korn, John Guarniere and Ken Tucci. He returned $6 (second choice) for his third win in five seasonal starts. He led a $33 exacta and $127.50 triple.

The $302,000-plus winner's share more than doubled Napoleion's previous ($230,768) career cash.

The $324,694 final of the Hudson Filly Trot wasn't nearly as dramatic. Odds-on choice Creamy Mimi (Trond Smedshammer, $3.20) controlled the race at every pylon, leading through two-furlong times of 29.2, 1:00.2, 1:29.3 and 1:58.1. She won by three easy lengths. Epangeline (Schnittker) was second as the second choice, with 45-1 proposition There'a Way (Bouchard) rallying for the bottom of the ticket.

Creamy Mimi, a daughter of Conway Hall, is trained by Smedshammer for co-owners Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. She has won three of here five '08 tries. (Yonkers)

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