Put On A Show rallies, But Royal Cee Cee wins

Yonkers Raceway's pair of Friday night, $35,000 co-features--an Open Handicap for distaff pacers and an Open for trotters--were won by first-over Royal Cee Cee N (George Brennan, $6.80) and pocket-sitting Brando's Muscle Man, also driven by Brennan.

 

In play from post position seven, Royal Cee Cee N found a seat third as Rock N Soul (Jason Bartlett) put last week's victress, Krispy Apple (Yannick Gingras), in behind before a :27 opening quarter-mile. After a :56.1 intermission, Royal Cee Cee N moved again, with Feeling You (Tyler Buter) towed along.

 

As for double-millionairess Put On a Show (Brian Sears), making her small-track debut, she watched the early floor show from eighth in the field before edging out to race fourth-over.

 

Meanwhile, Rock N Soul was coming under siege by the first-up foe in and out of the 1:23.4 three-quarters. Her lead in the polls was gone early in the lane as Royal Cee Cee N took over. Krispy Apple, seeing something in the passing lane she didn't like, either jumped a shadow or broke for some reason.

 

While Krispy Apple made her bobble, Put On a Show--the slightest of 2-1 favorites--was uncorking her bid from last, setting up a bang-bang finish. When the imaginary dust settled, Royal Cee Cee N was a neck better than Feeling Yon in 1:52.4. Put On a Show, with her :27.4 final quarter, settled for third, beaten a half-length.  A recovering Krispy Apple and Rock N Soul grabbed the remainder

 

For second-choice Royal Cee Cee N, a 6-year-old Down Under daughter of Christian Cullen owned and trained by Mark Harder, it was her ninth win (4-for-6 since hitting town) in 26 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $28, with the triple returning $185.50.

 

The week's featured trot saw "Brando"--leaving from post four--sit pocketed to 11-10 choice Looking Hanover (Gingras) through early intervals of :28.1 and :57.3. It was Bambino Hall (Jim Pantaleano) offering a challenge in earnest from the half to the 1:26.3 three-quarters, with the lass Mystical Starlight methodically moving to catch that one.

 

Turning for home, "Brando" ducked inside while Mystical Starlight rolled wide. Inside whipped wide by a head in 1:56.3. Looking Hanover faded to third--beaten 2½ lengths--with Take My Picture (Sears) and Big Sky Storm (Jordan Stratton) carving up the minor moolah.

 

For second-choice Brando's Muscle Man, a 4-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding owned and trained by Gilberto Garcia-Herrera, it was his eighth win in 30 '12 starts. The exacta paid $87.50, the triple returned $204.50 and the superfecta paid $906.

 

Yonkers Raceway continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday (save for Thanksgiving), Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule. (Yonkers)