Breakheart Pass (Yannick Gingras), the timid favourite and one of three, 2-1 propositions, lasted on a Friday night lead, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $38,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace
.
Leaving from position No. 4, Breakheart Pass worked around pole-sitting LR Dancing Dream (George Brennan) before the :27-second opening quarter-mile.
Slomotion (Jason Bartlett) took a shot leaving as well, but wound up hung to dry for her troubles. Breakheat Pass, using that one as a pick, rated a :56-second intermission, Park Avenue (Tyler Buter) advanced to race second-over, but the parked-out number was stopping in her face. All the while, Breakheart Pass found the 1:25 three-quarters, taking a length-and-a-half lead into the lane.
Fox Valley Sage (Jordan Stratton) angled from third at 30-1, offering solid late pace. However, Breakheart Pass held to the wire, winning by a half-length in 1:53.3. LR Dancing Dream, Little Mermaid N (Jim Pantaleano) and Queen Of Heaven N (Jim Marshall III) completed the cashers.
For Breakheart Pass, a six-year-old daughter of Western Hero trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, she returned $6.20 for her fourth win in 25 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $109, with the triple returning $325.
Friday night's $38,000 Open Handicap Trot--pared down to a half-dozen after two defections--was won by a pocket-patrolling Wind Surfer (Gingras).
Leaving from post No. 2, Wind Surfer watched as Donttellmywife (Brennan) put up intervals of :28, :57.3 and 1:26.4. Light Headed (Dan Dube) offered only minimal, first-up pressure as the leader maintained a length-and-quarter lead off the final turn.
However, Wind Surfer had that one lined up, edging out and prevailing by a length in 1:56.1. The minor spoils went to Master Pine (Jeff Gregory), Tasty Max (Stephane Bouchard) and 19-10 fave T Js Master Lavec (Bartlett).
For Wind Surfer, a five-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding trained by Burke for co-owners Betty Sherman and James Koran, he returned $8.90 (third choice) for his eight win in 26 '10 tries. The exacta paid $40, with the triple returning $96.50.
In addition to Wind Surfer, Gingras also won with The Windsurfer A in the $24,000 fifth-race trot.
(Yonkers Raceway)