Nidya A (Cat Manzi) snapped pacesetting Hannah Isabel (Pat Lachance) on the money Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $32,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace
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"Hannah" set sail through fractions of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:26. Style Semalu (Stephane Bouchard) was pocket-protected, while returning Eagle See (Peter Wrenn) was pacing in place first-up as the 9-5 choice.
Nidya A, leaving from post position No. 5, was done no favors by the favourite. She was second-over, going wide entering the lane.
Hannah Isabel had a length-and-a-quarter advantage in and out of the final, with Nidya A 3-1/2 lengths away. She timed it just right, closing from fifth to prevail by a head in 1:55.2. Leanback Coco (Jordan Stratton) grabbed the bottom of the ticket, with Style Semalu and invading Tracys Song (Greg Grismore) grabbing the small change.
For Nidya A, a nine-year-old Down Under Albert Albert miss trained by Peter Tritton for co-owners Paul McDougall and WJ McDougall Racing, she returned $21.40 (sixth choice) for her first win in two '09 tries. The exacta paid $129.50, with the triple returning $900.
The weekly $32,000 trotting feature saw Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory) grind his way to glory, getting by Ripped (Grismore) late in 1:57.
The latter was looped leaving by 9-10 fave American Lane (Manzi), then grabbed the lead after the :28.1 opening quarter-mile. Ripped found a soft, :59-second intermission, before Beach Nut Brand took up the chase.
Leaving from post No. 6, Beach Nut Brand had settled fifth. He then ranged up going to the 1:27.4 three-quarters, with Green Day (Lachance) slightly gapped.
Ripped maintained a tenuous lead turning for home, but Beach Nut Brand had him. The challenger went on by, widening to a length-and-a-half at the wire. Ripped saved second, with Green Day, Force Nine (Bouchard) and a fading American Lane completing the cashers.
For Beach Nut Brand, an eight-year-old Branded gelding trained by Mark Harder for co-owners Stable 45 and Scott Kurzrok, he returned $8.20 (second choice) for his first win in two seasonal starts. The exacta paid $30,60, the triple returned $176 and the superfecta paid $1,280.
Millionaire-in-waiting Self Professed (Jason Bartlett), needing any pay envelope to join the seven-figure set, couldn't get involved from the eight-hole and finished last.
Props to Grismore, who swept the $184.50 early double with My Wicked Willie ($12.80) in the $6,000, first-race pace and Light Headed ($43.40) in the $16,000, second-race trot.
(Yonkers Raceway)