Favourite Machs Beach Boy (Pat Lachance, $5.60) prevailed from a soggy pocket Saturday night, annexing Yonkers Raceway's $35,000 Open Pace.
Winning the blind draw, Machs Beach Boy was only going to allow one horse to out-leave him, and that one was Warrawee Needy (Mark MacDonald). Beach Memories was summarily stuffed into a three-hole before a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. After a :56.4 intermission, Beach Memories was trying his luck again, going to challenge "Needy" by the 1:24.2 three-quarters.
Warrawee Needy appeared to have some nighttime daylight, owning a length and a half lead into the lane. However, Machs Beach Boy dove into a damp passing lane and went by. He edged away by a couple of lengths in 1:52.4. Beach Memories held third, with a rallying Pancetta (Brian Sears) and Fat Mans Alley (Jason Bartlett) earning the minor moolah.
For Machs Beach Boy, a six-year-old Mach Three gelding Ontario co-owned by Dan Mogridge and Jeffrey Osborne, it was his fourth win in eight seasonal starts.
The exacta paid $13, with the triple (three wagering favourites in order) returning $28.60.
Stakes/series action continues next week. Monday, it’s the second round of the Petticoat Pacing Series. Tuesday, the second round of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series. Friday, the opening round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and Saturday, opening round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.
The Raceway’s live season continues Sunday (post time 1:10 p.m.), its final “French-centic” Sunday until November.
(Yonkers Raceway)