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Dec 19, 2017

Yonkers Raceway concluded its 2017 season Sunday   (Dec. 17^th), with Melady’s Monet (Jason Bartlett, $16.60) winning a certifiably-strange $40,000 Open Handicap Trot.

 The happy half-dozen went as the late-morning opener, which may have proven a bit too early for the two favorites. It was Gural Hanover (George Brennan), as the 4-5 choice, breaking in the first turn, Meanwhile, 9-5 second choice Smalltownthrowdown (Yannick Gingras), after assuming a quick open-length lead, jumped it off down the backside.

 That left B Yoyo (Joe Bongiorno) as the default leader, with Tight Lines (Jeff Gregory) pocketed and slow-starting polester Muscles on Fire (Brent Holland) third. After early intervals of :29.1 of :59.2, Melady’s Monet took out of fifth.

 That one, who had disappointed as the people’s preference the past two starts, advanced toward the leader at the 1:28.1 three-quarters.

 Melady’s Monet took over early in the lane, getting just enough of a ‘running start’ before Tight Lines found the passing lane. The latter beat the former by a neck in 1:56.4. Gural Hanover, recovering to race second-over,  wound up third, with B Yoyo and Muscles on Fire settling for the minors.

 For third choice Melady’s Monet, an 8-year-old Revenue S gelding owned by Melady Enterprises and trained by Kevin McDermott, it was his seventh win in 17 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $109, with the triple returning $388.50.

 Sunday’s ‘New York, New York Double’ saw a combination of 5-Storm Prophet (Aqueduct’s 3^rd race) and 4-Cash Me Out (Yonkers’ 6^th race), the pair of favorites returning $8.30 for every correct dollar ticket. Total pool was $5,709.

 The mandatory Pick 5...

Dec 19, 2017

The western New York “wonder from down under” Chumlee A, proved once again that he is the best pacer currently on the grounds as he led a fast :57 back half under heavy duress on a cold night to win the final $10,000 Open Handicap pacing feature of the meet at Batavia Downs on closing night (Dec. 16).

It took Chumlee A (Larry Stalbaum) over a quarter of a mile to get the lead as Don’tcallmefrancis (Billy Davis Jr.) played hardball on the front-end. But eventually the Aussie got there after a quick :28 second split before he put on the brakes to the half to get a short breather. Not content with the slowing pace, Focus Power (Drew Monti) pulled at the half and started one heck of a fight.

Drawing alongside Chumlee A, Focus Power pushed the issue as the two matched strides in a :28.1 third panel. Also pacing together around the far turn, Chumlee A’s lead was getting shorter but he continued to look strong on the point. Halfway down the lane the overland route had gotten to Focus Power but Don’tcallmefrancis, who had gotten the perfect two-hole trip the entire mile, popped into the passing lane and made a late bid. However Chumlee A had enough in the tank and hung on by a head in 1:54.2.

It was the second straight Open victory and fourth straight win at Batavia Downs and in northern hemisphere for Chumlee A ($3.60) who has been racing in the U.S. for just over a month. The 6-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere is owned by Mark Jakubik and Kim Asher, who also does the training.

It was a big night for trainer Kim Asher and driver Larry Stalbaum. Besides winning the...

For our IdaBet players, here are the Thursday Picks for Monticello. Happy Wagering!

1ST RACE: 1-5-3-4

2ND RACE: 3-7-1-5

3RD RACE: 3-5-6-4

4TH RACE: 1-4-5-8

5TH RACE: 2-6-5-1

6TH RACE: 2-7-3-4

7TH RACE: 2-1-3-4

8TH RACE: 4-2-3-6

For our IdaBet players, here are the Thursday Picks for Monticello. Happy Wagering!

1ST RACE: 5-1-2-6

2ND RACE: 5-3-2-7

3RD RACE: 6-5-1-7

4TH RACE: 4-1-5-6

5TH RACE: 4-2-3-1

6TH RACE: 5-1-4-2

7TH RACE: 3-1-5-4

8TH RACE: 1-7-6-4