BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Friday, September 4,
2015—Favored Yagonnakissmeornot (Dan Dube, $4.40) whipped second-choice
Cinamony (George Brennan) in track-record time Friday night, winning Yonkers
Raceway’s $48,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace
“Yagonna,” back here for the first time since being the bridesmaid in this
spring’s final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker, was headstrong from post position
No. 5. She found a 27-second opening quarter-mile, then demurred briefly to
Cinamony as that one was parked into the second turn.
Yagonnakissmeornot was out and moving
again, pulling pocket and reclaiming what she figured was rightfully hers at a
:55.2 intermission. Radar Contact (Jordan Stratton), who had left for a seat,
moved from fourth at the 1:24 three-quarters.
However, she couldn’t get close as the
leader had a length-and-a-half advantage into the lane. Yagonnakissmeornot then
easily held off Cinamony, widening to 2¼ lengths 1:51.2…a track record for aged
pacing mares.
Dune in Red (Tyler Buter) was third, with Skippin’ By (Brian Sears) and a Radar
Contact/Venus Delight (Jason Bartlett) “heater” grabbing the minor moolah.
For
Yagonnakissmeornot, a 6-year-old millionairess daughter of The Panderosa
co-owned (as Allard Racing) by (trainer Rene Allard and Kapildeo Singh, it was
her sixth win in 17 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $14.80, with the triple
returning $56.50.
Saturday’s
13-race card is the one of the Raceway’s finest all season, highlighted by the
$500,000 Yonkers Trot (race 6 ) and $500,000 Messenger Stakes (race 8), both
second jewels in their respective Triple Crowns…not a mention a free hat (while
supplies last).
Hambletonian
winner Pinkman and Cane Pace winner Dealt a Winner are after repeat
performances.
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