Yonkers: Semi Tough, I'm Very Special victorious in series finals

Yonkers Raceway wrapped up two stakes finals Monday night, both of which saw more than four months pass between preliminary legs and finals. The M Life Rewards Ladies and Gents Series began in the first week of March but were interrupted when racing was halted for three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Top performers from the legs that were held in March qualified for the $60,000 finals.

Semi Tough dominated his rivals in the M Life Rewards Gents Series final, leading all the way through blistering fractions of 26 3/5, 54 4/5, and 1:21 4/5 on his way to stopping the clock in a lifetime-best 1:50, just two-fifths of a second off the track record.

Semi Tough is a 4-year-old gelding trained by Ron Burke and was driven to victory by George Brennan. Semi Tough had made two recent starts in the Graduate Series and has now earned more than $540,000 lifetime.

In the M Life Rewards Ladies final, I'm Very Special blasted to the lead from post position eight and never looked back, winning by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:52 2/5. North Star Ideal finished second, and Red River Jane was five lengths back in third.

I'm Very Special notched her fourth win of the season for trainer Peter Pellegrino and owner Melvyn Colby of Great Neck, New York. Jason Bartlett was the winning driver.

--press release (Yonkers)--