YONKERS,
NY, Friday, May 18, 2012—Keeper's Destiny (Mark MacDonald) authored a 24-1
upset Friday night, getting by See You at Peelers and the rest in winning
Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $36,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
"Peelers," returning to the parimutuel wars for her first start since
fading in the $297,000 final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker here 20 nights ago,
was assigned penultimate post position No. 7 as the 4-5 favorite. She and
escort Ron Pierce were wide early, making the lead from Four Starz Roe (Larry
Stalbaum) before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile.
A rated 57-second intermission--plus the fact that second-choice Feeling You
(Eric Goodell) was in distress at the back--should have provided more than
enough ammo for See You at Peelers. However, when Naughtytiltheend (Brent
Holland) ambled alongside passing he 1:25 three-quarters, it was obvious
something was amiss.
"Peelers" was done early stretch, as Keeper's Destiny--leaving from
post position No. 4 and second-up behind Naughtytiltheend--edged past that one
to win by a half-length in 1:53. Four Starz Roe, Fox Valley Sage (Cat Manzi)
and Matchmaker winner Rocklamation (Jason Bartlett) earned the minor moolah as
See You at Peelers backpedaled to seventh, beaten six lengths.
For
Keeper's Destiny, a 6-year-old daughter of Intrepid Seelster co-owned by
(trainer) Casie Coleman and Merlin Howse (also the co-breeders), she returned
$50 for her fourth win in a dozen seasonal starts. The exacta paid $261.50, the
triple returned $1,336 and the superfecta paid $16,942.
"Right around the half, I could sense she wasn't herself,"
Pierce--who crossed the river for this one drive--said of See You at Peelers.
“I was trying to get some distance between the other mares, but she was going
all she could.
"She's a terrific mare, and I was hoping the good 'Peelers' would show up
tonight, but she didn't."
Sun of a Victory (Jim Pantaleano) bumped up the ladder and kept it going Friday
night, winning Friday night's co-featured $36,000 Open Handicap Trot.
Leaving from post No. 4, he watched early as Some Like it Hot (Holland) made
the lead around Orange Bigi (Manzi). The latter retook after a 29-second
opening quarter-mile, then found a :58.2 half. Sun of a Victory then moved from
fourth, engaging the leader before the 1:27 three-quarters (Some Like it Hot
broke in the pocket).
Sun of a Victory opened a couple of lengths turning for home, with 4-5
Blacktuxwhitesocks (MacDonald)--gapping down the backside--closing ranks from
second-over. However, Sun of a Victory had just enough of a lead to last, which
he did by a head in 1:56.2. Orange Bigi, a recovering Some Like it Hot
and H and M's Hit (Jordan Stratton) settled for the remainder.
For Sun of a Victory, a 6-year-old Victory Sam gelding owned by Richard
Poillucci and trained by Mark Harder, he returned $21 (fifth choice) for his
fourth win (third consecutive) in 14 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $54, with
the triple returning $189.
The Raceway's five-night-per-week (Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday)
live schedule continues. First post for all programs remains at 7:10 PM.
Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon
simulcasting (including Saturday's Preakness Day card from Pimlico)
available around the NYRA schedule.
