Wrangler Magic, who twice burned money as the favourite against less-talented lasses, was upon the money Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
Unhurried from post position five, Wrangler Magic (Dan Dube) saw a three-wide Empress Deo (Scott Zeron) pay a :26.3 price for the early lead. After a 56-second intermission, 9-5 choice Hidden Land (Brent Holland)—looped at the outset then stuffed into a four-hole—made her second move.
She engaged Empress Deo in and out of a 1:24.4 three-quarters, with the eventual winner gapping from second-over. Empress Deo owned a tenuous lead entering the lane,
A slow (:29.4) final quadrant 1:54.3 helped the field close ranks, with Wrangler Magic winning the scrum by a neck in 1:54.3. Motu Moonbeam N (Mark MacDonald), who had every chance up the inside from the pocket, was second, with a course-altering Set Me up (George Brennan) finishing third.
For fourth choice Wrangler Magic, a now-five-year-old daughter of Mach Three co-owned (as Allard Racing) by (trainer) Rene Allard and Kapildeo Singh, it was her first win in three seasonal starts. She paid $16.60.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)