Nip N Attack outdueled Esmeralda Semalu in a showdown between heavyweight distaff pacers, winning the $25,000 featured Open Pace on Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

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Nip N Attack, who came into the night with back-to-back wins in the Blue Chip series at Yonkers and over $100,000 in the bank in 2009, was sent to the front by driver Jim Morrill, Jr. around the opening turn. Meanwhile Esmeralda Semalu, a winner of six of nine in Florida including a world record of 1:49:4 for aged mares on a 5/8 oval, took the pocket trip. But despite setting blistering fractions up front, Nip N Attack turned back the challenge of Esmeralda Semalu in the stretch to win by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:51:2, the fastest time of the young season at Pocono.

Owned by Susan Oakes of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and Chuck Pompey of Archbald, Pennsylvania, Nip N Attack, a five-year-old mare sired by On The Attack, won for the sixth time in 12 starts this year. It was her 21st win lifetime, pushing her career earnings over $222,000.

(Pocono Downs)