Tepid favourite Monica Gallagher (Jason Bartlett, $6.20) pounced from the pocket Friday night (December 7), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
Nose-to-gate from penultimate post position No. 7, Monica Gallagher left into a pocket behind Angels Pride (Brent Holland). Her quarter-move attempt was rebuffed as Angels Pride laid down early intervals of :27.1 and a flat 57 seconds.
It was a :27.4 third quarter (1:24.4) to dispose of Keystone Wanda’s uncovered bid from fourth, but ‘Monica’ was ready. She vacated the cones early, about to polish off much a better trip than the self-inflicted, horrid sojourn of a week ago.
Monica Gallagher rolled by, widening to 2-3/4 lengths over Angels Pride in 1:53.3. Pole-assigned Regil Elektra (Joe Bongiorno) was a three-hole third, with Delightfulmemphisn (Dan Dube) and Made Of Jewels AS (Jordan Stratton) picking off the remainder.
For Monica Gallagher, a four-year-old daughter of Mach Three co-owned and D’Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, T L P & Gandolfo Stables and trained by Richard Banca, the win was her 10th in 24 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $27.60, the triple returned $147.50 and the superfecta paid $794.
A friendly reminder from Yonkers Raceway that Saturday evening’s Pick 5 wager starts with a carryover of $3,735.44 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 six through 10 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)