Simon Says yes and takes another Yonkers Open

Heavily favored Simon Says Hanover (Captaintreacherous) took his third harness racing win in a row in the $32,000 3 to 6 year old Open under a confident Matt Kakaley drive at Yonkers Raceway Wednesday evening (Jan. 31).

Kakaley roused the six-year-old gelding enough leaving the gate that he was able to find the three hole, following leader Adam Twelve (Yannick Gingras) who pushed out from the rail, and Greg The Leg (Brent Holland). The lone mare in the field, Sale El Sole (Jason Bartlett) sat fourth with Captain Cowboy (George Brennan) bringing up the rear in the five-horse field.

Adam Twelve led through unstressed early fractions of :28.0 for the quarter and :57.0 to the half with none of his rivals making a move.

But Gingras would soon rouse Adam Twelve on the lead as the 1 to 9 favored Simon Says Hanover pulled first-over at the three-eighths pole to commence his winning move. Adam Twelve responded and held a slim lead to the three quarters in 1:24.4 but Simon Says Hanover wasn’t going away.

Down the lane, Simon Says Hanover wore down his rival to win by a measured length in 1:52.3 over a game Adam Twelve. It was another length back to Greg The Leg who held third by a head over Sale El Sole, who acquitted herself well facing top class males for the first time. Captain Cowboy didn’t fire and he was well back in fifth.