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Tuesday, March 8, 2016

YONKERS HOSTS OPENING ROUND OF PETTICOAT PACING SERIES


BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Monday, March 7, 2016—Yonkers Raceway’s stakes season began Monday night, with the opening round of the Petticoat Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-old young ladies (non-winners of four races and/or $40,000 through last Dec. 1)

Four, $20,000 divisions went postward, with odds-on Kryptos (George Brennan, $2.60) turning in a-night’s-fastest/life-best 1:54.3 effort. The 3-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, 4-for-4 to begin her career, made short work of her rivals (:28.2, :57.2, 1:26) before winning by a length.

“She’s a bit green and hasn’t quite figured out of the turns, but she can go,” Brennan said.

The lass is co-owned (as Drennan Stable) by (trainer) Nik Drennan, Joseph Davino and Brad Shackman.

Driver Scott Zeron won two of the Petticoat divisions, with Capela ($2.60) in 1:55, and Little Miss Sporty ($5.90) in a life-best 1:54.4. Both are 4-year-old Sportswriter ma’ams.

The former, trained by Wayne Givens for co-owners Legacy Racing of Delaware and Reginald Hazzard II, is now 3-for-6 this season (3-for-3 since adding Lasix). The latter, owned by Stacy Reinsma and trained by Andrew Harris, has three (consecutive) wins in her five seasonal starts.

The evening’s final series division went to a seasonal-debuting Special Package (Jason Bartlett, $3.40) in 1:55.4. The 4-year-old daughter of Western Terror co-owned by (trainer) Tom Fanning and Fly By Night Stables


The Raceway’s live season continues Tuesday afternoon (first post 1 PM), with the opening round of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series (3- and 4-year-old colts/geldings).