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Saturday, September 24, 2016

TESSA SEELSTER WINS FRIDAY 45G DISTAFF DERBY

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

YONKERS, NY, Friday, September 23, 2016—Tessa Seelster (George Brennan, $7.70) again proved best Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

In play from her ‘inside’ post position No. 5 (posts 5 thru 8 were drawn), Tessa Seelster easily worked around pole-sitting, slight 2-1 favorite Devil Child (Eric Goodell). After a :27.3 opening quarter-mile, a :29.1 second substation (:56.4 intermission) served her well.

Secret’s Out N (Tyler Buter) took out of fourth and was originally pacing in place. She did eventually make steady advances in and out of a 1:24.1 three-quarters, though the leader maintained a length-and-a-quarter advantage entering the lane.

‘Tessa’ found the wire a half-length before Devil Child in 1:51.3. Secret’s Out N held third, with Rock N Roll Xample (Dan Dube) and Tipitina (Brent Holland) settling for the minors.

For third choice Tessa Seelster, a 4-year-old daughter of Shadow Play co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Jonathan Newman, it was her ninth win in 19 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $24.80, with the triple returning $121.

Saturday’s card is enveloped by the 27th New York Night of Champions, the $1.8 million culmination of the sire stakes season. The Empire State’s richest night of racing features eight, $225,000 NYSS, for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.


They go as the first eight races during the 13-race card, with first post the usual 7:10 PM.