First, she won the open draw. Then, she closed matters early.

Odds-on favourite Mach It A Par (Jason Bartlett, $2.60) toyed with her six foes Friday night (May 4), easily winning Yonkers Raceway’s $40,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace.

Away second, Mach It A Par went up and over Bettorhaveanother (Joe Bongiorno) before a 28-second opening quarter-mile. A qualifier-esque :57.4 intermission effectively ended what minimal suspense actually remained.

Motu Moonbeam N (Brent Holland) was the first to move—from seventh—and subsequently broke after Call Me Queen Be (Eric Goodell) appeared to come out underneath her.

Meanwhile, Mach It A Par maintained her open lead in and out of a 1:26.1 three-quarters, widening to three and a half lengths off the final turn. She finished if off by two and a half lengths in 1:54.2.

Culinary Delight (Larry Stalbaum) did get into second, with Bettorhaveanother, Call Me Queen Be and Delightful Dragon coming away with the minors.

For Mach It A Par, an eight-year-old daughter of Mach Three co-owned by D’Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, T L P & Gandolfo Stables and trained by Richard Banca, the win was her fourth in 13 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $8.40, with the triple returning $28.60.

Derby Day fun begins early Saturday (May 5), with mutuel windows opening at 10 a.m. in advance of the 144th Kentucky Derby. First post at Churchill Downs is 10:30 a.m., and Yonkers getting the spirit with the obligatory hat contests, mint juleps and an array of food and drink specials.

Of course, since a wager or two is made, windows are open both inside and outside, with Derby post time set for about 6:46 p.m.

(Yonkers Raceway)