Kaitlyn N (Matt Kakaley, $40.20) two-moved early, then picked off 1-20 favourite Imprincessgemma A (Joe Bongiorno) at the wire Friday night (February 21), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $40,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
In play from post position No. 6, Kaitlyn N played leapfrog with Sandy Win (Austin Siegelman) before eventually giving up the lead to ‘Gemma’ right at a 28-second opening quarter-mile.
The prohibitive fave, who had made to the lead after taking a three-hole seat, set quite comfy middle fractions of :57 and 1:26.3 with 133-1 bombardier Clear Idea (Dan Dube) offering no pressure first-up from fifth.
Imprincessgemma A owned a length-and-a-half lead in and out of the final turn, but was about to be tagged when it counted. It was Kaitlyn N edging out from the pocket and snapping the people’s preference. Sandy Win was third — beaten a neck — more than three lengths clear of pole-assigned Macbnhope (Eric Goodell) and eight-holer Snobbytown (George Brennan), that pair settling for the minors.
For fourth choice Kaitlyn N, a seven-year-old Down Under daughter of American Ideal co-owned by trainer Richard Banca, Barbara & James Boese, it was her second win in as many seasonal starts. The exacta paid $64, with the triple returning $363.50.
(Yonkers Raceway)