Driven by Mark MacDonald, Keepers Destiny authored a 24-1 upset Friday night, getting by See You At Peelers and the rest in winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $36,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace
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"Peelers," returning to the parimutuel wars for her first start since fading in the $297,000 final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at Yonkers 20 nights ago, was assigned penultimate post position No. 7 as the 4-5 favourite. She and escort Ron Pierce were wide early, making the lead from Four Starz Roe (Larry Stalbaum) before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile.
A rated :57-second intermission--plus the fact that second-choice Feeling You (Eric Goodell) was in distress at the back--should have provided more than enough ammo for See You At Peelers. However, when Naughtytiltheend (Brent Holland) ambled alongside passing he 1:25 three-quarters, it was obvious something was amiss.
"Peelers" was done early stretch, as Keepers Destiny--leaving from post position No. 4 and second-up behind Naughtytiltheend--edged past that one to win by a half-length in 1:53. Four Starz Roe, Fox Valley Sage (Cat Manzi) and Matchmaker winner Rocklamation (Jason Bartlett) earned the minor moolah as See You At Peelers backpedaled to seventh, beaten six lengths.
For Keepers Destiny, a six-year-old daughter of Intrepid Seelster bred by trainer Casie Coleman and owner Merlin Howse, she returned $50 for her fourth win in a dozen seasonal starts. The exacta paid $261.50, the triple returned $1,336 and the superfecta paid $16,942.
"Right around the half, I could sense she wasn't herself," Pierce, who crossed the river for this one drive, said of See You At Peelers. “I was trying to get some distance between the other mares, but she was going all she could.
"She's a terrific mare, and I was hoping the good 'Peelers' would show up tonight, but she didn't."
Sun Of A Victory, driven by five-time winning reinsman Jim Pantaleano, bumped up the ladder and kept it going Friday night, winning Friday night's co-featured $36,000 Open Handicap Trot.
Leaving from post No. 4, he watched early as Some Like It Hot (Holland) made the lead around Orange Bigi (Manzi). The latter retook after a :29-second opening quarter-mile, then found a :58.2 half. Sun Of A Victory then moved from fourth, engaging the leader before the 1:27 three-quarters. Some Like It Hot broke in the pocket.
Sun Of A Victory opened a couple of lengths turning for home, with 4-5 Blacktuxwhitesocks (MacDonald)--gapping down the backside--closing ranks from second-over. However, Sun Of A Victory had just enough of a lead to last, which he did by a head in 1:56.2. Orange Bigi, a recovering Some Like It Hot and H And Ms Hit (Jordan Stratton) settled for the remainder.
For Sun Of A Victory, a six-year-old Victory Sam gelding owned by Richard Poillucci and trained by Mark Harder, he returned $21 (fifth choice) for his fourth win (third consecutive) in 14 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $54, with the triple returning $189.
(Yonkers Raceway)