The next time Melady's Monet throws in a bad race would probably be the first time Melady's Monet throws in a bad race.
It was career win No 63 for Melady Saturday night taking down Yonkers Raceway's $35,000 Preferred Handicap Trot.
Melady's Monet-the odds-on favorite from assigned post position No. 7-left around both Lean Hanover and Smalltownthrowdown. Once on the point, Melady's Monet finished what he started, season's-best 1:54.3. Pappy Go Go tried it first-up from last among those trotting, but tired.
Meanwhile, Melady's Monet owned a pair of lengths in and out of the final turn, then whipped Lean Hanover by a length. Third went to Mostinterestingman with Smalltownthrowdown and Money Maven rounding out the payees.
For Melady's Monet, an 11 year old homebred Revenue S gelding owned by Melady Enterprises and trained by Hermann Heitmann, it was his second win in seven seasonal starts career earnings in excess of $1.63 million). The exacta paid $17.80, with the triple returning $101.50.
Saturday night's $40,000 Open Handicap Pace saw outsider Tookadiveoffdipper (Jordan Stratton, $37.80) beat both the gate and his half-dozen rivals.
From post No. 6, Tookadiveoffdipper left to immediate command, well before a 27.1 opening quarter mile. Season debuting Mac's Jackpot, as the 19-10 second choice, was able to get into a chasmic pocket. It was an antsy two-hole that Mac tried to vacate between a 56.2 intermission and 1:24 three quarters.
However, Tookadiveoffdipper stood his ground, taking a length and a three quarter lead into the lane. He held Mac's Jackpot at bay, the final margin a half length in a '20-best 1:52.2. San Domino A, the 17-10 choice was a belated third, with Jack's Legend N and Rockapelo settling for the smaller envelopes.