Pocketed Mach It A Par edged past pace-setting Tessa Seelster in mid-stretch Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $40,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
The field, pared to a half-dozen after outside assignee Krispy Apple came up injured, saw Tessa Seelster (George Brennan)—last week’s victress—once again do her damage on the lead.
The 3-4 choice worked around pole-sitting Mach It A Par and driver Brian Sears, then led through moist intervals of :28.1 and :57.1. Down the backside, Mosquito Blue Chip (Dan Dube) made a brief move from third, then ducked back in, leaving those honours to Pasultimatedelite N (Jordan Stratton).
That one challenged Tessa Seelster in and out of a 1:25 three-quarters, with the leader owning a length-and-a-half advantage into the lane. However, Mach It A Par was sizing her up and picking her off, slipping out and winning by that same length-and-a-half in a season’s-best 1:52.2.
Mosquito Blue Chip was third, with Pasultimatedelite N and Know it All (Eric Abbatiello) earning the final two envelopes. Regil Elektra (Tyler Buter) brought up the rear.
When the dust settled, the six lasses finished in post position order.
For second choice Mach It A Par, a six-year-old daughter of Mach Three co-owned by Delegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, TLP & The Gandolfo Stables and trained by Rich Banca, it was her second win in 13 seasonal starts. She paid $7 to her backers.
Friday evening’s $30,000 Filly and Mare Preferred Handicap Pace was won by favoured Rock N Roll Xample (Sears, $4.40) in 1:53.4.
(Yonkers Raceway)