Jimmy Marohn Jr. and Yankee Nola captured the featured $14,000 Open Handicap trot on Friday night at Tioga Downs. Yankee Nola was the lone mare in the field of eight, was assigned post position number eight, and the boys could still not beat the talented trotting mare. The duo floated from behind the gate and captured the lead of the race just past the opening quarter timed in 28. The field raced in straight alignment through a half in 58, and as the field tripped the three quarter mile mark in 1:27.1 Yankee Nola received her first true test from Keystone Empire who was first over. Keystone Empire looked the mare in the eye, but could not get by as Yankee Nola and Marohn rebuffed the challenge to win by a length in 1:57. Tyler Raymer owns and trains the 7-year old SJ’s Photo-Nila Domarr mare who has won five of fourteen seasonal starts, and with the win increased her seasonal earnings to more than $65,000. Levitys Pride and Kyle Di Benedetto used a two hole trip to take home the place money, while Keystone Empire and Richard Simard hung on for third.(Tioga)
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