YONKERS,
NY, Saturday, November 10, 2012--Driver Jim Morrill Jr. turned 48 Saturday
night. He celebrated in the happiest place on earth,...Yonkers Raceway's
winner's circle.
Morrill and Bettor B Lucky won a blanket photo in the $229,440 Lady Maud Pace
for 3-year-old fillies.
That Bettor B Lucky won was not a surprise. After all, she outdrew her six
rivals and had earned more than $358,000 this season. However, hadn't raced for
a purse in exactly six weeks and hadn't even qualified in 30 days after some
heart issues which forced her to miss the Breeders Crown.
Showing heart was not an issue this night. She protected the pocket as Economy
Terror (Eric Goodell)--leaving from post position No. 4--lead through early
intervals of :27.2 and :56.2. Handsoffmycookie (Dave Miller) sat third as
Romantic Moment (Brian Sears), the 1-2 choice, found a seat fourth.
It was the New York Sire Stakes champ Romantic Moment trying it first-up,
though not getting very close to the leader through a :27.3 third quarter
(1:24). Economy Terror had a length-and-a-half turning for home, but her hooves
were getting heavy.
Bettor B Lucky, despite some funky steps before straightening out, edged from
the pocket, with "Cookie" getting her shot inside. The three lasses
raced in unison toward the wire, resulting in a genuine Kodak moment.
It was Bettor B Lucky's nose which found the line in a 1:52.1, a stakes record
as well as a track stand for sop pacing fillies. Economy Terror was second, with
Handsoffmycookie third, beaten a head. Ramalama (Jason Bartlett) and Romantic
Moment completed the cashers, the latter becoming a career millionairess with
latest pay envelope.
Major Look (George Brennan) and Rockaround Sue (Mark MacDonald) rounded out the
order.
For Bettor B Lucky, a statebred daughter of Bettor's Delight co-owned (as Burke
Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, W J Donovan and Lawrence Karr,
she returned $9.90 (second choice) for her sixth win in 17 seasonal starts. The
exacta paid $53, with the triple returning $149.
"You didn't know what to expect from her tonight, but she was
loaded," Morrill said. "I had the trip I wanted (behind Economy
Terror). I had to gather her a bit to angle her out of the pocket, and that may
have cost me a step or two, but she's a very talented filly."
The Raceway continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule, with first
post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening
simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting
available around the NYRA schedule.
