BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Friday, February 3, 2017—A
pocketed Set Me Up (George Brennan, $11) was indeed set up Friday night,
winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
:27.3, :57.1, 1:25.2, 1:54.1
In play from post position No. 2, Set Me Up
made the first lead before handing the baton to outside leaver Bettor N Better
(Jason Bartlett). That one led through intervals of :27.3 and :57.1. The second
backside appearance saw Hidden Land (Jeff Gregory) moved first-up from fifth,
with Empress Deo (Matt Kakaley) behind that one.
Bettor N Better maintained her lead in and
out of the 1:25.2 three-quarters, with a length-and-a-half advantage off the
final turn. However, she was about to go off the rails, but not before carrying
Set Me Up into the passing lane.
The latter ducked inside and prevailed by
a half-length in 1:54.1. Second went to a season-debut Bedroomconfessions
(Scott Zeron), who found herself buried alive as the 8-5 choice before finding
her best stride—and a place to place—too late.
Motu Moonbeam N (Mark MacDonald), Hidden
Land and Empress Deo rounded out the payees, while Bettor N Better tired to
last among the seven lasses.
For second
choice Set Me Up, an 8-year-old daughter of Shark Gesture co-owned (as Burke
Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi, it was her first win in
three seasonal starts (33rd in a career now exceeding a half-million
dollars). The exacta paid $34.80, with the triple returning $114.
