Post five takes Yonkers co-features

Yonkers began its 2009 season Friday night with a pair of $31,000 Open Handicaps, for trotters and distaff pacers with Yankee Nola and Symphony In Motion winning their respective contests.

The marquee trot came complete with a late face lift, as favored TJ's Mr. Lavec (Jason Bartlett) was lame. That accorded the role of favorite to understudy Indiana Hall (Jeff Gregory), but the 9-10 choice could not deliver the goods.

Yankee Nola (Jim Pantaleano), fresh from a career season, skimmed the cones here. She prevailed by a charging three-quarters of a length in 1:57.1.

Leaving from post position five after two inside scratches, "Nola" settled in fourth while the new-fangled favorite led the way. Indiana Hall had the big chair through fractions of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:27.4. Meadowview Matty (Pat Lachance) stalked from second, while A J's Send Money (Jim Meittinis) was first-up.

Indiana Hall had a length-and-a-half lead turning for home, but could not fight off the fairer sex. Meadowview Matty, Pablo Angus (Dan Cappello Jr.) and "A J" conpleted the cashers, while Princetonian (Brent Holland, more about him later) broke leaving.

For Yankee Nola, a 7-year-old daughter of SJ's Photo owned and trained by Tyler Raymer, she paid a rank-outsider $43.80 for a winning start to her season. It was her fourth victory in last five tries dating to early November. The lass who beat the boys led a $191 exacta and $641 triple.

Symphony In Motion won the season's first female feature, wiring her five rivals in 1:55. Holland--four winners on the 11-race card--drove for trainer Larry Remmen.

Leaving from post position five (in two notches after a pair of defections, just like the featured trot), Symphony In Motion stepped around JK Pure Pearl (Lachance), making the lead before a :27.2 opening quarter mile.

She continued her advantage through a :57.3 intermission and 1:26.3 three-quarters, with Sentbytheangels (Ryan Anderson) offering the first-over bid.

Symphony In Motion owned and length-and-a-quarter lead entering the lane, then held off "Pearl" by a half-length. Pancleefandarpels (Bartlett) settled for third as the 4-5 favorite, with longshots Joyful Years (Pantaleano) and Noble Descent (Gregory) earning the small change.  Sentbytheangels was sent home with fond memories. 

For Symphony In Motion, a 5-year-old daughter of Bettor's Delight co-owned by Carol Demarch and Joseph Jannuzzelli, she returned $5.80 (second choice) for a succesful '09 opener. The exacta paid $27, with the triple returning $61.

For the record, Flight Sign ($8.90) and Lachance won the first local race of the new bank calendar, going first-up and over in the $8,000 pacing event before drawing off in 1:55.1. (Yonkers)

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