Mark MacDonald sweeps Yonkers features

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, June 18, 2016 – "I don't think I have anything left to say." Such was the post mortem of one harness racing driver Mark MacDonald Saturday night after winning six of Yonkers Raceway's 11 races.

One night after Jason Bartlett won a happy half-dozen, MacDonald picked up that gauntlet, including taking both halves of the night's $45,000 co-features in his best-ever local work night.

MacDonald chauffeured favored Sunfire Blue Chip ($5) to a down-the-road victory in the Open Handicap Pace (1:51.2). "Sunfire," from position No. 4, defeated a pocket-sitting Doctor Butch (Dan Dube) a by length, with Artistic Major (Jason Bartlett) a good, two-move third.

While the pacing result was predictable, the featured trot was not so much. MacDonald and pole-assigned Aggressive ($38) edged past E R Ellie (Jordan Stratton) by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3. Undercover Strike (Bartlett) was a steppy third, while just-over-even-money fave Luminosity (George Brennan) was a non-factor sixth.

MacDonald's first win of the evening was behind a first-up Northview Punter A ($11.40) in the $18,000, second-race pace (1:52.1). He then lasted on the lead with Forty Five Red ($7) in the $22,000, fifth-race pace (1:52).

After putting the two features to bed, MacDonald then swept the $591 late double with Summers Windsong ($59) in the $26,000, 10th- race trot (1:54.4), and a pocketed Sapphire City ($25.60) in the $22,000, 11th-race pace (1:52.2).

Not even the MacDonald Fan Club deciphered the Saturday Pick 5, so Monday night's gimmick begins with a carryover of $2,424.39 (50-cent base wager, races 7 through 11).

Frank Drucker