A first-up Freeze Out (Jordan Stratton, $8.10) did it with a flourish Friday night (May 12), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $55,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace for a fifth consecutive victory.

Away fifth from post position No. 4, Freeze Out was uninvolved early as Call Me Queen Be (Scott Zeron) quarter-moved past Apple Bottom Jeans (George Brennan). The ‘Queen’ made the lead just at :27.4 opening quarter-mile, then found a :56.2 intermission.

Freeze Out took aim at her target going by a 1:25 three-quarters, then went past early in the lane. Freeze Out finished out winning by a length-and-a-half in a life-best 1:53.2. Apple Bottom Jeans, compromised sitting behind a tiring leader, closed inside for second, with Sassa Hanover (Matt Kakaley), Jag Out (Brent Holland) and a never-in-it 8-5 choice Mach It A Par (Brian Sears) rounding out the payees.

For third choice Freeze Out, a four-year-old daughter of American Ideal owned and trained by Ricky Bucci, the win was her seventh in 13 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $138, the triple returned $890 and the superfecta paid $2,389. During her form spree, she hasn’t once been sent off as the betting favourite.

Prior to the main event, Stratton also drove Nike Franco N ($4.20) to an impressive 1:52.2 win in the $40,000 Preferred over Lispatty (Sears) and Prairie Sweetheart (Kakaley) for trainer Jo Ann Looney-King and owner Richard Poillucci.

(With files from Yonkers Raceway)