Racine Bell, who made a break in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final and then was second against males in the Open at Vernon Downs in her last two outings, found the winner's circle after a 1:52.3 performance in the $36,000 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace on Friday night (May 19) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Driver Jason Bartlett had Racine Bell in the pocket past the start, but he moved her to the outside and took the top spot away from a fast-leaving Delitfulcatherin N (Jordan Stratton) at the 28-second opening quarter. Racine Bell then went on to the half in :56.3 and the three-quarters in 1:24.3, with Drama Act (George Brennan) first-over out of third on the way to the latter marker.
Drama Act kept plugging away on the rim around the last turn and into the lane, but Racine Bell fought her off through the drive, while also keeping Delitfulcatherin N pinned in the pocket, to prevail by a length and a quarter. Delitfulcatherin N did hold on for second at odds of 36-1 and Drama Act had to settle for third.
A six-year-old So Surreal mare, Racine Bell is trained by Dave Dewhurst for owners Chris and Dale Lawton. This was her 32nd career victory and she has now earned $1,062,971.
She paid $3.90 to win as the 4-5 favourite and led a $141 exacta and a $447 trifecta.
That win by Racine Bell was the last one by a favourite on Friday night's program as 43-1 shot Blood Brother and 21-1 offering Alotbettor N swept the late Daily Double. Those upsets led to the Pick 5 not being hit, and as a result, there will be a carryover of $6,551.32 and a guaranteed pool of $20,000 in the sequence on Saturday night.
The guarantee in the Pick 5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick 5, courtesy of TrackMaster, are available here. The Pick 5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20 per cent.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday-Saturday live racing schedule with post time at 7 p.m. (EDT).
(Yonkers Raceway; Photo of Racine Bell winning a leg of the Matchmaker Series on March 24)