Mazzarati picked up her first win of the season in last week’s New York New York Mile elimination, and trainer Lucas Wallin believes the best is yet to come.

The runner-up in last year’s Breeders Crown, Mazzarati is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line for Friday’s (July 2) $150,000 New York New York Mile final for three-year-old female trotters at Yonkers Raceway. She will start from post seven in a field of eight, with Tim Tetrick driving. Iteration, who received a bye into the final, is the 5-2 favourite.

Mazzarati has raced four times this season, with two seconds and a fourth in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action prior to her win. She has finished behind only Grand Circuit stakes winners: Dan Patch Award recipient Anoka Hanover, O’Brien Award winner Donna Soprano, Breeders Crown champ Lady Chaos, Flawless Country, and Love Muffin.

“She started the season OK, but I thought she would have started a little better because she was training so good,” Wallin said. “Last year, she was kind of the same. She raced good at the beginning and then just got better and better. I think it’s going to be the same this year too. I think she just needs a couple of races before she really gets in top gear.”

Mazzarati, a daughter of Cantab Hall out of Falls For You, won four of 11 races last season and earned $250,552. For her career, she has finished among the top three in 12 of 15 starts for owners Mazza Racing Stables and Stormi And Bruiser Stable and banked $298,859.

“She doesn’t do too many bad races, so I think we’re going to have a great year with her,” Wallin said. “She feels like a top filly; I think she can compete with them. I think we can change a couple things and get her sharper as we go forward.

“We’ve raced her with an open bridle and steel shoes. I think we’re going to try a pulldown bridle for the first time on Friday, but we’re not going to change anything with the shoeing. I think she is going to be better when we pull the shoes, but we’re going to save that for the bigger races.”

Last week, Mazzarati and Tetrick led at every call on the way to a head victory over Imhatra AM S in 1:55.2. Imhatra AM S drew post eight for the final.

“Now of course I’m a little partial, but I think if you win the elimination you should be rewarded,” Wallin said. “I really think the winner should pick post first, then second place picks second, and so on. I cannot understand why you go like this, but that’s the rules and we just have to go with it.

“She really needs to step up from that post, but she’s been really good. I’m hoping for a good performance.”

Morning line favourite Iteration is 2-for-2 this year for driver Brian Sears and trainer Marcus Melander. She won the Empire Breeders Classic in her most recent start and has posted seven victories lifetime in 12 races.

In addition to the New York New York Mile, Yonkers on Friday hosts the $500,000 Yonkers Trot, $500,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes for three-year-old pacers, and $150,000 Park MGM Pace for three-year-old female pacers. The Yonkers Trot is the first leg of this year’s Trotting Triple Crown; the Messenger the first for the Pacing Triple Crown.

Racing begins at 7:15 p.m. (EDT) Friday at Yonkers.

Following is the field for the $150,000 New York New York Mile.

1. Presto (Yannick Gingras/Ake Svanstedt) 9-1
2. Iteration (Brian Sears/Marcus Melander) 5-2
3. Rebel Girl (Dexter Dunn/Nifty Norman) 6-1
4. Lindys Dollywood (Todd McCarthy/George Ducharme) 9-1
5. Sweeping Rainbow (David Miller/Joe Holloway) 9-2
6. Contested Hanover (Scott Zeron/George Ducharme) 8-1
7. Mazzarati (Tim Tetrick/Lucas Wallin) 3-1
8. Imhatra AM S (George Brennan/Marcus Melander) 15-1

(USTA)