BY FRANK DRUCKER,
Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS,
NY, Friday, December 16, 2016—A shrewdly-driven Mach it a Pair (Jordan
Stratton, $6.90) prevailed from the pocket Friday night, winning Yonkers
Raceway’s $45,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
Usually
a authentic closer, Mach it a Par—from mandated post position No. 7—was put in
play here, and it obviously served her well.
She
and eight-hole assignee Krispy Apple (Jason Bartlett) both cleared the inside
half-dozen ladies, with a three-wide latter making the lead just after a :27.3
opening quarter-mile. Longshot So Nice (Tyler Buter) left into a three-hole,
which didn’t do much for the cause of pole-sitting Regil Elektra (Dan Dube).
The
song remained the same at the :57.1 intermission, before Hidden Land (Brent
Holland) moved…from seventh. Bedroomconfessions (Scott Zeron), as the
tepid 2-1 fave, was away last and chased that one toward a 1:25.1
three-quarters.
Mach
it a Par was fidgety in the pocket, extricating it to grab a short lead in and
out of the final turn. She then finished is off, winning by 2½ lengths in
1:52.3. Hidden Land put in a fine effort, continuing first-up for second, with
a needing-room Regil Elektra, Krispy Apple and Moto Moonbeam N (Matt Kakaley)
rounding out the payees.
Bedroomconfessions
was devoid of pace and backpedaled to last.
For second choice Mach it a Par, a 6-year-old
daughter of Mach Three co-owned by D’Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, T L
P & Gandolfo Stables and trained by Rich Banca, it was her 13th
win in 31 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $64, the triple returned $250 and
the superfecta paid $1,143.
Yonkers’ 2016 live season concludes with cards
Saturday (first post 7:10 PM) and Sunday (first post 1 PM). A reminder that
there’s no simulcasting Dec. 19th through 28th, inclusive
and the ’17 season begins Sunday (post time TBA, dates pending approval of New
York State Gaming Commission).
