BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Friday, January 18, 2019—Ella Michelle A (Joe Bongiorno, $7.70) won the draw
for the inner half of the gate, then left the other lasses at her mercy Friday
night (Jan. 18th), easily winning Yonkers Raceway’s $44,000 Filly
and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
Ella Michelle A
stuffed both Amateur Hour (Brent Holland) and Clear Idea (Matt Kakaley) in
behind, while 3-2 favorite Itty Bitty (Jason Bartlett) was forced to retreat
after she, too, tried leaving.
Meanwhile, Ella
Michelle A had nary an issue (:27.4, :57, 1:25.4, 1:55.1), with Clear Idea
faltering after a weak second move. Ella Michelle A had a couple of lengths in
and out of the final turn before winning by three. Culinary Delight N (Larry
Stalbaum) offered late lane pace to get second, with a tough-trip Itty Bitty,
53-1 rank outsider Made of Jewels AS (Troy Beyer) and Amateur Hour settling for
the minors.
For
second choice Ella Michelle A, a now-8-year-old Down Under daughter of
Cammibest owned and trained by Chris Scicluna, it was a winning seasonal debut.
The exacta paid $89.50, the triple returned $324.50 and the superfecta paid
$2,896.
