Locally-debuting Blue Moon Stride (Brian Sears, $5.80) handled the Westchester crowd with few issues Friday night (June 30), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $55,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
The field, through first-half-mile raindrops, was pared to half-dozen after Call Me Queen Be (ill) and Sell A Bit N (late for Lasix) were both withdrawn.
In play from position No. 4 (in once notch due to one of those defections), Blue Moon Stride worked around Shesjusadelight N (Ron Cushing), taking the lead right at a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.
It was a 56-second intermission before last week’s victress, Freeze Out (George Brennan), moved from fifth. That one, as the 13-10 fave, challenged the leader in and out of a 1:23.3 three-quarters before being put away.
Blue Moon Stride opened couple of lengths entering lane before widening her stride to win by three and a half lengths in 1:52.2. Shesjustadelight N chased with no shot, while Freeze Out tired to third. I Deal In Kisses (Dan Dube) and Venus Delight (Brent Holland) came away with the minors, while Jewel Leigh A (Mark MacDonald) was always outrun.
For second choice Blue Moon Stride, a four-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover Aussie co-owned by Emilio & Marie Rosati and trained by Mark Harder, the win was her first in 16 seasonal starts (career earnings over $760,000). The exacta paid $15.20, the triple returned $30.40 and the superfecta was refunded due to insufficient starters.
A reminder regarding Saturday’s (July 1) simulcast of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby from the Curragh. Races three through eight shall be imported, with the Derby going as the seventh race (approx. post 12:20 p.m.). Mutuel windows (fourth floor only) have an early 10 a.m. opening.
(Yonkers Raceway)