No More Gold N wins Open Trot at Yonkers

April 05, 2008

It was more of the same for No More Gold N as the 10-year-old Evander's Gold gelding, with Greg Grismore driving for trainer Dave Cornachione, strolled past Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory) to win Friday night's co-featured $30,000 Open Trot at Yonkers Raceway

Leaving from post position five, No More Gold N slipped in third as Kaline (Steve Smith) and Beach Nut Brand played leapfrog on the lead in and out of a :28.2 opening quarter mile. Beach Nut Brand owned the big chair at the :57.1 intermission and 1:26.3 three quarters, while Kaline began to backpeddle.

No More Gold N took out of third to engage slight favorite Beach Nut Brand around the final turn, gaining the ultimate advantage in deep stretch. He prevailed by a hard-fought half length in a season's-best 1:56.2. One Nineteen (Stephane Bouchard) was third, beaten three lengths, with Kaline and Tell Me a Story (Jim Pantaleano) completing the cashers.

For No More Gold N, co-owned by Inquisitive Stables and Melinda Kash, it was his fifth win in eight '08 tries. He returned $6.30 as the tepid second choice, leading a $20.60 exacta, $82.50 triple and $161.50 superfecta.

Friday night's co-featured, $30,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace saw a lass from Illinois, Faith Leigh (Bouchard), justify her shipping and handling costs by lasting on the lead.

With nose on gate from post five, "Faith" stepped around pole-sitting Percee Angus (Gregory), setting sail through fractsion of :27, :56.4 and 1:25.2. Best Chance Hanna (Pat Lachance) tried it first-up, with Omen Hanover (Eric Abbatiello) along for the tow.

Faith Leigh's 1 3/4-length lead entering the lane was dimishing quickly, but she found the wire when she needed it. The inavader held off Omen Hanover by a neck in a season's-best 1:54.2. Best Chance Hanna, 2-1 fave Jan's Luck (Grismore) and Little Mischievous (Pat Berry) also made money. JK Pure Pearl (Jason Bartlett), who had won her last three femme features, was a non-factor sixth here.

For Faith Leigh, a 4-year-old daughter of Incredible Finale co-owned by Ronald Phillips and John Carver and trained by Erv Miller, she's now 2-for-2 this season and career earnings in excess of $200,000.

The evening's undercard was led by the $15,000 Mr. and Mrs. Spanky Invitational Trot, where Woody Woodrow (Gregory, $4.30) lasted in 1:58.3. (Yonkers)

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