Schnittker teams Armbro Barrister to wet Yonkers win

Co-owner and trainer Ray Schnittker drove the veteran Armbro Barrister to a 13-1 upset in the co-featured $30,000 Open Handicap Trot on a rainy Friday night at Yonkers Raceway.

After track record-holder (and slight 9-5 race favorite) Victor's Vicky (Jordan Stratton) jumped it off at the outset, second choice No More Gold N (Greg Grismore) made the lead from his assigned eight-hole.

Clearaway (Stephane Bouchard, the usual driver of "Barrister") settled second, with Longpond Emily (Jim Marohn) third. Armbro Barrister, meanwhile, leaving from post seven, was last among those who left the gate in good order.

No More Gold N led through intervals of :29, :59.1 and 1:28.4. I'm a Sakra (Jason Bartlett) offered a long, uncovered bid before breaking. Enjoy the Victory (Jack Baggitt Jr.) also misbehaved from second over, while Armbro Barrister--slipping out third-over--was rolling.

No More Gold N took a length-and-a-half lead into the lane, but the "Barrister" had the law on his side. He stormed by, winning by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:59. No More Gold N, Clearaway, Tell Me a Story (Jeff Gregory) and I'm a Sakra (sixth-placed-fifth) completed the cashers.

For Armbro Barrister, a 7-year-old Malabrar Man gelding co-owned (with Schnittker) by Kelk's and Earl Scheelar, he returned $28.80 (sixth choice) for his third win in a dozen seasonal starts. Armbro Barrister--career cash now nearing $630,000--led a $152 exacta and $901 triple.

The co-featured, $30,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace proved a case of wet chalk, as 1-2 choice Benear (Gregory) had few issues.

Leaving from post six, she stepped around Brickyard Trouble (Ray Baynes) before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile. After a 58-second intermission and 1:26.3 three-quarrers, Benear was nearly three lengths to the good turning for home.

She easily held Brickyard Trouble at bay, winning by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:56.1. Miss Galvinator A (Jim Marohn), Whambam N (Jim Marshall III) and Reconquete (Bartlett) scrummed for the scraps. 

For Benear, a 5-year-old daughter of Badlands Hanover, she returned $3 for her third win in 13 '08 tries. The lass was co-owned by David Scharf & Jerry Silva and trained by Carl Cito Jr.. The exacta paid $22.20 (two faves), with the triple worth $113.50. (Yonkers)

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