Yonkers featured pace to Dave Ain't Here

Dave Ain't Here (Stephane Bouchard), protecting a Yonkers Raceway pocket from an inside assignment, rolled by favored Psilvuheartbreaker (Jim Meittinis) Saturday night in the featured $50,000 Open Handicap Pace.

 

Psilvuheartbreaker, the 11-10 choice from post position No. 3, led through fractions of 28, 56.2 and 1:24.1, with Real Nice (Brent Holland) trying it first-over.

 

The people's preference owned a length-and-a-quarter lead into the lane, but was about to be overtaken, "Dave" angled from the pocket, widening to

 

2 1/2 lengths in a life-best 1:52. Arduous (Eric Abbatiello), stepping out of the claiming ranks for new connections, snapped second over "Heartbreaker," with King Cat Anvil N (Jordan Stratton) and Pandora's Sox (Billy Dobson) completing the cashers.

 

For "Dave," an 8-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding owned and trained by Ettore Annunziata, he paid $11.20 (third choice) for his fourth win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $100.50, with the triple (three inside entities) returning $164.

 

Bouchard won four races Saturday night after winning five the night before.

 

Consider this a friendly reminder from Yonkers Raceway that the entry box for both the 2009 Yonkers Trot and Hudson Filly Trot closes Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 4 PM ET.

 

Elimination races--if necessary--for both events are scheduled for Saturday night, Aug. 22, with the finals set for Saturday night, Aug. 29. Estimated purses are $510,000 (Yonkers) and $280,000 (Hudson), respectively. The night of the finals also features a T-shirt giveaway (while supplies last), but more about that later. (Yonkers)