Perfectionist (Dan Dube) showed no respect to her elders Friday night, wiring Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $36,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace
.
Leaving from post position No. 3 (in one notch after an inside defection), Perfectionist--helped when 7-5 favourite KG Delight (George Brennan) broke early--put up fractions of :28, :57.1 and 1:25.
Mach You And Me (Jason Bartlett) offered mild, first-pressure as Perfectionist owned a length-and-a-half lead into the lane.
Perfectionist finished what she started, widening to 2-1/2 lengths at the wire in 1:54. Cuz She Can (Greg Grismore) snapped second over longshot Ladycino (Ryan Anderson), with Mach You And Me and Lady Sometimes (Jordan Stratton) completing the cashers.
For Perfectionist, a three-year-old Brittany Farms homebred daughter of Western Ideal trained by Jimmy Takter, she returned $17.40 (sixth choice) for her second win in 22 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $83.50, with the triple returning $1,166.
Friday night's co-featured $36,000 Open Handicap Trot saw pole-sitting Force Nine (Stephane Bouchard) last on the lead.
Force Nine led through weigh stations of :28.3, :59.1, 1:28.2 and 1:57.4 before holding Self Professed (Brennan) at bay late.
The latter, able to wedge into a pocket past the quarter, dove inside but missed a neck. Macho Lindy (Bartlett), invading and ordered to the eight-hole as the 17-10 choice, held third after an out-every-step trip. Libra Vita (Anderson) and Badboy Paparazzi A (Mike Simons) corralled the loose coin.
For Force Nine, a five-year-old Dream Vacation gelding trained by Tom Shay for owner Michael Morand, he returned $7.20 (second choice) for his sixth win in 32 '09 tries. The exacta paid $36.40, with the triple returning $106.50.
Special Friday night props to Green Day, who became harness racing's newest millionaire with a win in the $26,000, high-conditioned trot. Green Day (Pat Lachance, $4.70) went the distance in 1:57 for his 22nd career victory.
The five-year-old Enjoy Lavec gelding, trained by Mary Raymer for Trillium Racing, had his career highlight at Yonkers, winning the 2007 Yonkers Trot. Green Day's career earnings now stand at $1,002,671.
(Yonkers Raceway)