Imprincessgemma A (Joe Bongiorno, $5.10) rated and sprinted Friday night (Oct. 25), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $42,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
Sent to an immediate lead from assigned post position No. 5, ‘Gemma’ left around Write Me A Song (George Brennan) before a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. A pokey :57.1 intermission would serve her well while 9-10 favourite Tequila Monday (Eric Goodell) advanced from last.
A :27.1 third quarter (1:24.2) dispatched Tequila Monday, with Imprincessgemma A opening a length-and-three-quarter lead into the lane. She held Write Me A Song at bay, winning by a length in 1:51.3 …another :27.1 sub-station to match a season/life-best effort.
Glenferrie Blade A (Jordan Stratton) was a third-hole third, with Mach It A Par (Jason Bartlett) and Robyn Camden (Jim Marohn Jr.) settling for the minors.
Tequila Monday backed away, winding up last among the half-dozen.
For second choice Imprincessgemma A, a five-year-old Down Under daughter of Village Jolt trained by Jennifer Bongiorno for co-owners (driver/trainer) Steve Manzi and Wish Me Luck Stable, the win was her eighth in 13 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $32.20, the triple returned and the superfecta paid $426.
A friendly reminder from Yonkers Raceway that Saturday evening’s Pick 5 wager starts with a carryover of $3,944.05 and a $15,000 guaranteed pool. The guarantee is in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.
The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager comprising races seven through 11 Saturday night. It has no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners (as was the case Friday night), the entire pool (minus takeout) moves to the next racing program.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)