Tracys Song, part of the odds-on parimutuel propositon, stepped into the Friday footlights, winning Yonkers Raceway's $63,400 final of the Petticoat Pacing Series for three and four-year-old fillies and mares
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With Greg Grismore driving for trainer Ron Burke, "Tracy"--leaving from post position No. 2--settled in fourth through a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. She then took over from stablemate Orphan Annie (Cat Manzi) right after the :57.2 intermission, with Kennans Ellery (Brent Holland) to her outside.
"Tracy" had no designs of letting that one go, and "Kennan" soon called it a night. SS Derby Girl (Stephane Bouchard) went wide at the 1:26.3 three-quarters, but could not sustain that bid.
Tracys Song owned a length and a quarter lead entering the lane, then held her barn buddy at bay, winning through the raindrops by a length in 1:55.4. Cam Town Carrie (Ryan Anderson) was third, with Make A Bundle N (Jordan Stratton) and Driving In Style (Jason Bartlett) completing the cashers.
"Once I made the lead, I figured we'd be tough to beat," Grismore said. "She's been getting better every week. We've made a few (equipment) adjustments with her through the series to help her get around the track easier, and I think she's going to be even tougher when she gets back to the big tracks."
For Tracys Song, a four-year-old daughter of Astreos co-owned by Burke Racing & Weaver Bruscemi, she paid $2.50 for her third win in a dozen seasonal starts. She led a $6.60 exacta and $26.40 triple.
A $25,000 series consolation went to Fivewillgetuten (Grismore, $21.60) in 1:57.2.
Friday night also offered the third of five preliminary rounds in the Blue Chip Matchmaker, with a pair of $40,000 events for high-class pacing mares.
Ramona Disomma (Stratton), last early in the first Matchmaker, swept to command in and out of the final turn. She was able to get the jump on 3-10 favourite Sportsfancy (Bartlett), who was gapping slightly from second-over.
Leaving from post No. 4, Ramona Disomma watched Omen Hanover (Eric Abbatiello) control from the pole through fractions of :27.4, 57.4 and 1:26.1. Omen Hanover gave way early stretch, with "Ramona" striding out to win by a length and a half in 1:55. Sportsfancy did snap second over Omen Hanover.
For Ramona Disomma, a four-year-old statebred daughter of Pacific Fella trained by Jake Hartline for Anatolia Racing Stable, she returned $9.60 (second choice) for her third win in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $14.60, with the triple worth $79.50.
Stratton chaperoned the second Blue Chip Matchmaker winner as well, as Pancleefandarpels toyed with her half-dozen foes.
Leaving from post No. 6, the 3-5 fave had to work to get around Double Dream N (Holland) after a zippy 27-second opening two furlongs. From there, however, "Pancleef" became awfully lonely. Widening through a :56.3 half and 1:25.2 three-quarters, she opened to 3 1/2 lengths turning for home. The final margin was five lengths in 1:53.2.
Double Dream N was second, with Elusive Prey (Bouchard) third.
For "Pancleef," a five-year-old daughter of Noble Ability owned by Peter Pan Stables and conditioned by Erv Miller, who recently celebrated his 3,000th training victory, she paid $3.20 for her fifth victory in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $9.50, with the triple returning $23.
Friday night's $40,000 Open Handicap Trot went to 14-1 shot Long Story Short (Bouchard, $31.20) in 1:58.1.
The George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series, the Raceway's premier Free-for-All event, continues Saturday night with four $50,000, third-round divisions. The 11-race card also includes the $70,600 final of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series for three and four-year-olds.
(With files from Yonkers)