"It's cold and it's windy." Such were the Friday night conditions--as reported by photographer to the stars (and mediocre meteorologist) Mike Lizzi--for the third round of Yonkers Raceway's Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for pacing mares.
Four $40,000 divisions--leg three of five--went postward.
A pair of odds-on lasses went at it in the first division, and it was their race from the outset. Royal Cee Cee N (George Brennan) led through intervals of :28, :58 and 1:26.2, with pole-sitting Feeling You (Tyler Buter, $3.90) never out of range. The latter edged from the pocket, and measured it off, winning by a neck in 1:54. Docs Hope (Cat Manzi) was third, beaten four and a half lengths.
Feeling You, a six-year-old daughter of Cambest trained by Amber Buter for co-owners Buter the driver, Stephen Oldford and Oldford Farms, is now four-for-six this season (two-for-three in Matchmaker).
She was the slight wagering favourite. The exacta paid $5.30, with triple wagering cancelled (scratch of Eighthunrdolarbill).
The second division was yet another race with two odds-on propositions. Ramalama (Tim Tetrick, $3.80), from post position No. 3, perched behind her entrymate Ginger And Fred (Yannick Gingras) through fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:25.2 and rolled by that one mid-lane. She won by two and a quarter lengths in 1:54. Krispy Apple (Matt Kakaley) gave herself too much work to do, rallying from the sixth down the backside before photoing Ginger And Fred for second.
Ramalama, a four-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Our Horse Cents Stable, is now one-for-four this season.
The exacta (again, two wagering faves in order) paid $5.90, with the triple (fourth-place finisher Chief Karen [Jason Bartlett] third for purposes of this wager) paid $35.
Odds-on double-millionairess Anndrovette (Tetrick, $2.90), from post No. 2, took over from Camille (Gingras) after a :27.3 opening quarter-mile. She found a :57.3 half and 1:26.1, then rebuffed her rival's advances through the lane. Anndrovette won by a neck in 1:54. Western Silk (Brian Sears) was a best-of-the-rest third, beaten three lengths.
O'Brien Award winner Anndrovette, a six-year-old daughter of Riverboat King trained by PJ Fraley for co-owners Bamond Racing and Joseph Davino, is now two-for-three this season (and series). It was her 30th career victory.
The exacta paid $4.10, with the triple returning $8.90.
In the final division, defending series champ Rocklamation (Gingras, $2.40) took over Bettor B Lucky (Kakaley) after weigh stations of :28, :57.1 and 1:25.4, then held off her stable sister by a half-length in 1:54.1. Full Picture (Brennan) was third and a first-up Warrawee Koine (Bartlett) was fourth.
Rocklamation, a five-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover trained by Burke for co-owners Our Horse Cents Stable, Stable 45 and Jerry Silva, is now three-for-four this season (two-for-three in series).
The exacta (Full Picture second for this wager) paid $9, with the triple (Warrawee Koine third for this wager) returning $15.80.
Friday night's $38,500 Open Handicap Trot was won by Imperial Count (Buter, $6.60) in 1:56.3.
Saturday's card features the third round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series, going as five $50,000 divisions.
(With files from Yonkers)