Yonkers: Rich And Miserable takes home Bonus Trot final

Rich and Miserable (Dave Miller, $11.80) snapped odds-on Swansea (George Brennan) at the line Tuesday night (4/23), winning the $73,000 final of Yonkers Raceway/Standardbred Owners Association of New York Bonus Trotting Series.

Away last among the octet from post position No. 7, Rich and Miserable saw 4-5 favorite Swansea—he of the 3-for-3 preliminary-round resume—make the lead well before a 28 3/5 opening quarter-mile. Eight-holer Joey Bats (Jason Bartlett) floated out, then moved to engage the leader from the second turn, passing a 56 3/5 half-mile.

‘Joey’ eventually jumped in turn three, leaving a pocket-inheriting Whether Or No Fi (Yannick Gingras) as Swansea’s closest pursuer. Chasin’ Dreams (Jordan Stratton) was making some inroads in and out of a 1:25 three-quarters, with Rich And Miserable chasin’ Chasin’ Dreams.

Swansea, meanwhile, owned a length-and-a-half lead entering the lane, but Rich And Miserable was widest and fastest. From 10 lengths out at the intermission, he whipped Swansea by a schnoz in 1:55 1/5. Whether Or No Fi, Chasin’ Dreams and No Excuses (Scott Zeron) came away with the remainder, while an outrun Omaha Omaha (Tim Tetrick) and misbehavers Joey Bats and Henderson Seelster (Mark MacDonald) brought up the rear.

For third choice Rich And Miserable, a 4-year-old Explosive Matter gelding co-owned by Buter Farm, Lynette Buter, William & Carol Fuhs and trained by Todd Buter, it was his second win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $34.40, the triple returned $157 and the superfecta paid $602.

The series was open to 3-year-olds and their elders who were non-winners of six parimutuel races and/or $100,000 through this past Feb. 1 (winners over $150,000 lifetime through that same date ineligible). Rich And Miserable also earned an SOA-paid $10,000 bonus.

A $35,000 series consolation was won by MVP Luke (Miller, $4, part of entry) in 1:56 4/5.

Nobody hit the Pick 5 on Tuesday and that results in a $6,172.86 carryover for the Thursday Pick 5. The pool will be guaranteed at $20,000 and starts in race 6.

-edited release (Frank Drucker for Yonkers)