Skippin By (Matt Kakaley, $7.20) ducked in and went by Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $20,000 high-conditioned filly and mare pacing feature.
Skippin By, a gapping third from post position No. 2, saw 17-10 favourite, pole-sitter Jonsie Jones (Tyler Buter) two-move to lead around Regil Elektra (Brian Sears). The former footprinted early intervals of :27.3 and :57 before Al Raza N (Eric Carlson) took out of fourth, just in front of Apricot Sour (Dan Dube).
Al Raza N engaged Jonsie Jones at the 1:24.4 three-quarters before dismissing her early in the lane. The leader was done, but Regil Elektra then angled outside of her. That left the pylons for a resurgent Skippin By, who had closed ranks before edging past.
The margin over Regil Elektra was a half-length in 1:52.4. Al Raza N, All About Kisses (Mark MacDonald) and For The Ladies N (Jordan Stratton) rounded out the payees.
For second choice Skippin By, a four-year-old Shadow Play miss co-owned by trainer Ron Burke (as Burke Racing), Weaver Bruscemi, Wall Brothers Stable and Bruce Soulsby, the win was her sixth in 27 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $32.80, the triple returned $83 and the superfecta paid $652.
Note since no one took down Friday night’s Pick 5 wager, Saturday’s gimmick begins with a carryover of $3,722.22 (50-cent base wager, races seven through 11). Also note that with Sunday’s matinee concluding the racing season, that Pick 5 shall be paid to those ticket(s) with the highest number of correct winners (no carryover into 2016).
Yonkers’ 2015 racing season wraps up with programs Saturday evening (first post 7:10 p.m.) and Sunday late morning (first post 11:15 a.m.).
(Yonkers Raceway)