On The Tab wins 56th Yonkers Trot

On the Tab won Saturday night's 56th Yonkers Trot, first jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown.

Dave Miller, with his first Trot victory, did the honors for trainer Jimmy Takter, who won this race for a second consecutive season.

Yonkers Raceway's premier trotting event, worth $573,770, saw pole-sitting Senor Glide (Cat Manzi) led the octet through a :29.2 opening quarter-mile.

Shaq Is Back (Steve Smith) tried the mix it up early, but jumped it off in the first turn.

That left Carnegie (Stephane Bouchard) to patrol the pocket, with Hard Livin' (Ron Pierce)--like Senor Glide an elim winner a week ago--away third.

On the Tab, leaving from post position No. 3 as the third member of the Takter triumvirate, moved from fourth. Senor Glide stole a 60-second intermission before On the Tab was able to turn it up. Take My Picture (Jeff Gregory) was well-placed second-over, with Carnegie continuing in the two-hole.

Senor Glide found a 1:29.2 three-quarters, owning a half-length lead into the lane.

On the Tab was relentless, going by his barn buddy and also holding off the rival in his rear-view mirror. He defeated Take My Picture by a half-length in  1:58.4, by Senor Gide third, Hard Livin' fourth and Carnegie fifth. Waldorf Hall (Jordan Stratton), Big Stick Lindy (Ray Schnittker) and the miscuing Shag is Back  rounded out the order 

"I was very impressed with him last week (second to Hard Livin')," Miller said. "They weren't gong much anf he came home well.

"Tonight, it was the same thing. No speed up front, and he did it first-up. In the lane, I saw Cat (Manzi) asking his colt, and I thought I had him beat. I was  a bit concerned with the other one (Take My Picture), but my horse hung in there. It's a great race to win."

"I'm obviously very happy to win this race," Takter said. "It's one we always point to, because I understand the history of it. I used to have nothing but bad luck in it, but hopefully that's turned around.

"(On the Tab) was the one that Marcus (Johansson, Takter's son-in-law) really liked and wanted to drive here (before his accident at the Meadowlands).

"He wasn't an expensive horse ($30,000), but he always showed me something," Takter said. "I appreciated winning (the 2009 Trot) with Judge Joe, but he was a very talented horse when he came to me (from the Ackermans). It's special to win with one you've developed, and I look forward to trying to win it again."

For On the Tab, a 3-year-son of Cantab Hall, co-owned by Takter's wife, Chirstina, John Fielding, Louie Camara and Falkbolagen Ab, he (and his posse) returned $2.20 for his first win (with six seconds) in eight seasonal starts. The exacta (Take My Picture a parimutuel second) paid $8.90. There was no triple  wagering.

New York Sire Stakes action continues Monday night, with the $276,000 Bruce Hamilton (3-year-old colts/geldings) in four divisions. (Yonkers)