BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Friday, February 8, 2019—In a race where half the field was comprised of New
Zealand-breds, Shezza GNP N (Jordan Stratton, $42.40) led a 1-2-3 Kiwi finish
Friday night (Feb. 8th), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $44,000 Filly and
Mare Open Handicap Pace.
The start of the
feature was delayed as pole-given Amateur Hour (George Brennan) essentially
refused. The seven other lasses left without her, with a three-wide Nerida
Franco N (Dan Dube) getting around 3-10 choice Delishka N (Brent Holland) just
after a :27.3 opening quarter-mile.
After a :56.4
intermission and going toward a 1:26 three-quarters, it was an antsy Delishka N
extricating herself from the pocket, though not without having to work for it.
She took a length-and-a-half lead into the lane, but company was coming.
From assigned post
position No. 4, Shezza GNP N, working from third-over, closed to outgame
Kaitlyn N (Matt Kakaley) by a nose in 1:56. Delishka N tired to the bottom of
the ticket, with Ella Michelle A (Joe Bongiorno) and a recovering Amateur Hour
completing the cashers.
For
seventh choice Shezza GNP N, a 6-year-old Down Under daughter of Art Major
owned (as Tritton Inc.) and trained by Peter Tritton, it was a winning seasonal
debut. The exacta paid $344, the triple returned $1,626 and the superfecta paid
$4,760.
