Yonkers feature winner is a keeper

Yonkers Raceway's pair of moist Friday night, $35,000 co-featured Open Handicaps--for distaff pacers and trotters of all assorted alliances--were won by a sharp Keeper's Destiny (George Brennan, $6.30) and a equally-crisp Mystical Starlight (Mark MacDonald, $5.10).

 

Finding a seat fifth post position No. 7, Keeper's Destiny saw 13-10 choice Rock N Soul (Yannick Gingras) work around Ticket to Rock (Cat Manzi) before a :28.2 opening quarter-mile. It was "Keeper's" on the move to the lead right at the :58.3 intermission, opening a couple of lengths by the 1:26 three-quarters.

 

The lead was 2 ¾ lengths turning for home, and Keeper's Destiny was never seriously threatened. She won by that same margin in 1:55.2, with Ace of Pace (MacDonald) closing outside to be the bridesmaid. A cone-skimming Ticket to Rock, Chief Karen (Jason Bartlett) and Rock N Soul rounded out the payees.

 

For second choice Keeper's Destiny, a 6-year-old daughter of Intrepid Seelster owned by Merlin Howse and trained by Casie Coleman (also the co-breeders), it was her ninth win in 27 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $82.50, with the triple returning $391.

 

The week's high-end trot played out a lot like the girls get-together. Here, the mare Mystical Starlight was seated fourth from post No. 4 as Brando's Muscle Man (Brennan) made the lead from Take My Picture (Andy Miller) after a :27.1 opening quarter.

 

Mystical Starlight, as the 3-2 favorite, then confronted the leader coming to the :57.2 half, disposing of that one well before the 1:26.1 three-quarters. She had three lengths in and out of the final turn before winning by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:56.3. A rallying Celebrity Bluechip (Bartlett) took second, with "Brando," Rookie Mistake (Larry Stalbaum) and Looking Hanover (Gingras) grabbed the remainder.

 

For Mystical Starlight, a 7-year-old daughter of Credit Winner owned by Glen Hobin and trained by Ross Croghan, it was her fourth win in 28 '12 tries. (Yonkers)