Mach It A Par (Jason Bartlett, $6) was the third and last leader Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $50,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
Into the game early from assigned post position No. 7, Mach It A Par waited her turn as Empress Deo (Matt Kakaley) and Lispatty (Mark MacDonald) took turns with the lead. Mach It A Par grabbed her chance just after a :27.2 opening quarter-mile.
After a 29-second next substation (:56.2 half), it was 48-1 rank outsider For The Ladies N (Dan Dube) taking out of fourth. Regil Elektra (Brent Holland) was second-up, while 19-10 choice Mackenzie A (Jordan Stratton), in her U.S. pari-mutuel debut, was behind that one.
Mach It A Par continued her work night in and out of a 1:25 three-quarters, taking a length and a quarter lead into the lane. Despite drifting a bit, she held sway, negating the sharp close of Mackenzie A to win by a head in 1:52.4. Third went to Lispatty, with Empress Deo and Regil Elektra rounding out the payees.
The five cashers were separated by just one and three-quarter lengths at the line.
For second choice Mach It A Par, a seven-year-old daughter of Mach Three co-owned by D’Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, Gandolfo & T L P Stables and trained by Richard Banca, the win was her first in two seasonal starts. The exacta paid $28, with the triple returning $75.50.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)