Yonkers: Upsets aplenty on Friday night, Pick 5 carries over

On a Friday night of upsets (only two winning favorites in nine races) at Yonkers Raceway, Street Gossip added his name to the list of surprise victors by capturing the featured $39,000 Open Handicap Trot in 1:54 4/5.

Driven by Matt Kakaley, Street Gossip got away in fourth from post two and watched as Mississippi Storm and driver Jordan Stratton made his way to the lead in a 27 4/5 opening quarter. Warrior One had also been hustled away from the gate by George Brennan and moved up to challenge Mississippi Storm past that marker, but Stratton elected to keep him parked out.

Mississippi Storm would reach the half in 56 3/5 while still being pressured by the two-wide Warrior One, and their battle continued through a 1:25 3/5 three-quarters. Warrior One called it a night shortly after that point, but Hayek, steered by Jason Bartlett, was sent three-wide from second-over as the field raced in the backstretch for the second time. However, his bid stalled out almost immediately, allowing Mississippi Storm to maintain control on the far turn and into the lane.

Pocket-sitter Hill Of A Horse and Marcus Miller tipped out late on the bend to try and chase down the pace-setter, but Hill Of A Horse was also stymied by the game Mississippi Storm and couldn't make any forward progress. While Mississippi Storm trotted home determinedly and looked like he might be on his way to victory, Street Gossip was the fresh threat after sitting along the pylons the whole time, and when a gap appeared on the inside in the closing strides, Street Gossip shot through and got up at the wire to defeat a hard-trying Mississippi Storm by a nose. Hat Trick Marleau and Tyler Buter raced near the back of the pack throughout, then rallied for third.

Sent off at 9-1, Street Gossip is a 4-year-old Cash Hall gelding trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for owners Carl T. Howard and Jesmeral Stable. This was his 17th career win, and he has now pocketed $400,395. Street Gossip paid $20.20 to win and led a $59.50 exacta and a $557.00 trifecta.

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When racing resumes on Monday night (March 7) at Yonkers, there will be a Pick 5 carryover of $6,378.62 and a guaranteed pool of $20,000 in the sequence.

The guarantee in the Pick 5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick 5, courtesy of TrackMaster, will be available here. The Pick 5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20 percent.

Monday night's 13-race program at Yonkers kicks off at 6:55 p.m. and features a $39,000 Open Handicap Pace.

--press release (Yonkers)--