Jordans Jewell, 9-for-9 to begin her career, is the 9-5 early choice for Yonkers Raceway's $47,700 final of the Hopeful Pacing Series for three-year-old fillies.

The Friday finale (first post 7:10 p.m.) offers an intriguing octet after three weeks of prelims.

Jordans Jewell, a daughter of Mantese, won both of her Hopeful legs right after a six-month hiatus. She drew Post 3 and retains the services of driver Jason Bartlett.

"She's just a gritty filly and really likes her job," Bartlett said. "She was a bit steppy in the first leg, had trouble in the first turn, so we added a Murphy blind on her inside (left) and tightened the hobbles, and that helped in her second start."

'Jordan,' who has a pair of 1:55 freshman miles to her credit (at Yonkers and Plainridge) is trained by Matt Medeiros for co-owners Gary and Beverly Paganelli, John MacLean and Michael Daddario.

Bartlett had a decision to make, selecting Jordan's Jewell over another talented lass.

McGibson, a winner of both her Hopeful tries, drew Post 7 with Brent Holland getting the assignment.

"She didn't cost much ($18,000) at the end of the Harrisburg sale," trainer Linda Toscano said. "I didn't even realize at the time that she was a half-sister to ($378,000 winner) Rudy Rednose...and he never even made the races at two."

The daughter of McArdle, co-owned by Bay's Stable, Camelot Stables and William Jacobowitz, made a half-dozen starts as a freshman -- primarily against Jersey-breds -- before being shut down with breathing problems.

"She had surgery, and we're obviously very pleased to way she's responded," Toscano said. "I've always liked the half-mile tracks, and we trained her back with the Hopeful in mind."

Trainer Robbie Siegelman had more than a passing interest in Friday's festivities, with Gordyyys Pet (PP4, Cat Manzi) and Cheyenne Margie (PP5, Jordan Stratton) starting side-by-side.

Both lasses, leased by The Cheyenne Gang, have acquitted themselves well.

"They're very green and very different," Siegelman said. "Gordyyys Pet is big and powerful, a strapping filly, and 'Margie' is much smaller and feminine.

"Neither was ready last season. They were, and are, very immature, sort of like fifth or sixth-graders, but they've shown me good things in this series."

In a true testament to the open draw, Riches to Rags and driver Ryan Anderson, who turned in the fastest trial mile (1:57.3), wound up behind the eight ball for the final.

The field for Friday's ninth-race feature, with declared drivers and morning-line odds is listed below.

Post-Horse (Driver, Morning Line Odds)
1-Pinnacle Portia (Pat Berry, 12-1)
2-Dreams Bar (Bill Vandervort, Jr., 8-1)
3-Jordans Jewell (Jason Bartlett, 9-5)
4-Gordyyys Pet (Cat Manzi, 6-1)
5-Cheyenne Margie (Jordan Stratton, 6-1)
6-Dingle Bay (Chris Ryder, 5-1)
7-McGibson (Brent Holland, 3-1)
8-Riches to Rags (Ryan Anderson, 6-1).

A $20,000 consolation goes as the eighth race.

The $49,400 final of the Hopeful for sophomore colt and gelding pacers is scheduled for Saturday night.

(Yonkers)