Yet another Yonkers Raceway Ladies Night Friday, with the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for Open pacing mares
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As was the case in the opening round, five $40,000 divisions went postward.
As always was the case, See You At Peelers (Brian Sears) was ready for her close-up. After a dead-heat with Chancey Lady in her round one seasonal debut, the lass was not about to share here.
Leaving outside her six rivals in the fourth event, she was in play early. Impeded a bit by an inside breaker, 'Peelers' had few other road flares to contend with. Throwing down fractions of :27.3, :56, 1:24.3 and 1:52.2, she defeated Billmar Scooter (Tyler Buter) by a couple of lengths. Keepers Destiny (George Brennan) was a loose pocket third, with Pancleefandarpels (Mark MacDonald) fourth.
For 'Peelers,' a four-year-old statebred daughter of Bettors Delight trained by Jimmy Takter for co-owners (breeder) Christina Takter, and Jim and John Fielding, her second win in as many seasonal starts raised her career resume to 24-for-27. The odds-on people's preference returned $3.10, the exacta paid $12, the triple returned $20.40 and the superfecta paid $82.50.
"Last week, for her first start of the season, I just let her relax out of the gate and do her thing," Sears said. "Tonight, with the outside draw, I wanted her more alert leaving.
"She was much sharper than she as last week, but she figured to be. I was very happy with her."
Friday night's other Matchmaker string quartet looked like this:
Fox Valley Sage (Cat Manzi), starting inside her five foes, sat pocketed to 11-10 favourite Breakheart Pass (Jason Bartlett), then scooted up the cones to prevail in 1:54. Naughtytiltheend (Brent Holland) closed for second--beaten three-quarters of a length--with Synergy Seelster (MacDonald) rallying for third. Breakheart Pass tired to last.
Fox Valley Sage, an eight-year-old daughter of Richess Hanover owned by Stephen Farrell Jr. and trained by Ralph Andersen, returned $6.10 (second choice) for her third win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $38.60, with the triple returning $227.50.
In a battle of 9-10 shots, slight choice Anndrovette (Tim Tetrick, $3.80) stole a soft (:29.2) opening quarter, stung Western Silk (Brennan) before letting that one go at the :57-second half, then picked her off late. She won by a length in 1:53.1. Shacked Up (Buter) was third, beaten five lengths.
Anndrovette, a five-year-old statebred daughter of Riverboat King trained by PJ Fraley for co-owners Bamond Racing and Joseph Davino, is now two-for-five this season. The exacta paid $7.70, with the triple returning $18.80.
Chancey Lady (Tetrick), who shared the glory with See You At Peelers a week ago, hogged the headlines here. Leaving from post position No. 3, she took it to the house (:27.4, :56.2, 1:24.2), defeating 3-4 choice Rocklamation (Brennan) by a half-length in 1:52.2, equalling See You At Peelers's fastest win time of the leg. Summer Snow (Jordan Stratton) was a best-of-the-rest third.
Chancey Lady, a seven-year-old Camluck miss trained by Fraley for owner Baron Racing, returned $6.30 (second choice) for her second win in five '12 tries. The exacta paid $13.40, with the triple returning $135.50.
Pole-sitting Queen Of Royalty (Buter) stalked 3-5 favourite Krispy Apple (Tetrick), was pointed to the passing lane, and tripped out against a first-up Ginger And Fred (Bartlett) in season's-best 1:53. Hulas Z Tam (Pat Lachance) closed from last to grab third, while Krispy Apple faded to fifth.
Queen Of Royalty, an eight-year-old Albert Albert ma'am owned and trained by Allen Sisco, returned $22.60 for her third win in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $107.50, with the triple returning $379.
Friday's $33,000 Open Trot was won by Flex The Muscle (Jeff Gregory, $15) in 1:56.3.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)