Breakheart Pass and driver Jason Bartlett set it up from second-over Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $33,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace
.
Leaving from post position five, Breakheart Pass watched the early action as Qucksilvercandy A (Larry Stalbaum), 10-10 favourite Mystical Diva (Jim Pantaleano), Bunny In The Bank (George Brennan) and Mud Pie Hanover (Cat Manzi) all wanted in.
Mud Pie Hanover took over from Mystical Diva passing a :27.4 opening quarter-mile, but the favourite was out again. She reclaimed just after a :56.2 half, then fended off Bunny In The Bank in and out of a 1:24.3 three-quarters. Mud Pie Hanover was backing out of the pocket, while Breakheart Pass was getting towed into contention.
The people's preference fought the good fight until the final turn, when she caved. Bunny In The Bank won the battle, but was about to lose the war, as Breakheart Pass had the better trip. She edged away by a length-and-a-half in 1:53.3. Bunny In The Bank saved second, with Billmar Scooter (Tyler Buter), Quicksilvercandy A and Southwind Swallow (Mark MacDonald) grabbing the remainder.
For Breakheart Pass, an eight-year-old daughter of Western Hero co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi, she returned $10.40 (third choice) for her third win in six seasonal starts.
Friday night's co-featured $33,000 Open Handicap Trot saw Coach Fox (Larry Stalbaum) patrol the pocket, then go by.
Assigned post position three, he sat behind slight 5-2 fave Celebrity Bluechip (Jason Bartlett) through intervals of :28.4, :58 and 1:26.2. Coach Fox, in his second seasonal start off the bench, then ducked inside to win in 1:56.3. He defeated Neighsay Hanover (Jeff Gregory) by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.3, as the latter desperately needed some place to race.
The pacesetter faced to third, with Pembroke Prayer (Brennan) and Fort Valley As (Manzi) completing the cashers.
For Coach Fox, a nine-year-old Keystone Nordic gelding co-owned by Stalbaum and Mike Sorentino, Jr. and trained by Kim Asher, he returned $13.60 (fourth choice) for his first '12 win.
(Yonkers Raceway)