Jasperthat A, owned in part by Montreal's Gerrie Tucker, upset the Friday night apple cart, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $32,500 Filly and Mare Open Handicap
Pace.
Bling (Eric Goodell) garnered all the early attention, taking over from inside assignee Celtic Danser (Jordan Stratton) just after a :27.3 opening quarter-mile.
After a :57.2 intermission, Breakheart Pass (Dan Dube)--who left into fourth from her ordered eight-hole--made her play for the lead. She and Bling dueled in and out of the 1:25.3 three-quarters. Second-up was Gottogetoutmore (Tyler Buter), but she wasn't the problem. Jasperthat A, third-over from post position No. 4, and Up Front Cruiser, the 2-1 favourite on that one's back, were going to decide the issue.
Jasperthat A, driven by Cat Manzi, was able to get first "run," winning by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:55.1. Up Front Cruiser chased home the winner, with Gottogetoutmore, Celtic Danser and Symphony In Motion (Jeff Gregory) grabbing the small change.
For Jasperthat A, a seven-year-old Down Under Village Jasper lass co-owned by trainer Joe Anderson (as Anderson Racing) along with Gerrie Tucker, she returned $28.40 (sixth choice) for her first win in a pair of seasonal starts. The exacta paid $102.50, with the triple returning $693.
Friday night's co-featured $32,500 Open 'Cap Trot turned into an unscheduled distaff derby, with the lone lasses--30-1 Victors Vicky (Stratton) snapping 24-1 Friendly Amigo (Jason Bartlett) on the money.
Hurrikanebiggeorge (Dube) and 4-5 fave Summertime Yankee (Brent Holland) slugged it out past a :27.4 opening quarter, with "Biggeorge" gaining the lead after that interval. He led through subsequent subsections of :57.2 and 1:27.4. Trottin Troy (Jim Pantaleano) challenged, with Friendly Amigo towed and Victors Vicky off the cones to race third-over.
The front end folded early stretch, and it became Ladies Night and Longshot Night all rolled into one. "Vicky"--who started from post No. 7--earned the nod, whipping Friendly Amigo by a head in 1:58. Hurrikanebiggeorge, Trottin Troy and Shoeless White Sox (Gregory) earned the minor moolah.
For "Vicky," an eight-year-old daughter of Valley Victor owned by Fabulous Farms and trained by Richard Johnson, she returned $63 as the rank outsider for her first win in three '11 tries. The exacta paid $527, with the triple returning $2,438.
Horsemen and fans are reminded that beginning this Tuesday (Feb. 1), all of Yonkers' overnight races shall be contested at the distance of a mile-and-one-sixteenth. Please be advised that all series and stakes races remain at the flat mile distance.
(Yonkers Raceway)