Favourite Mach It A Par (Brian Sears, $4.70) read the memo just in time on Friday night (July 1), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
Operating second-over from post position No. 5, Mach It A Par watched as pole-assigned Hidden Land (Brent Holland) stuffed Regil Elektra (Mark Macdonald) in behind, while second choice Secrets Out N (George Brennan) was away third.
Hidden Land (:28, :56.2) was unchallenged until Secrets Out N moved in Turn Three. However, she couldn’t get close in and out of a 1:24.1 three-quarters, with Mach It A Par gapping that one.
Hidden Land owned a length and a quarter lead into the lane, but started to weaken. Mach It A Par, though drifting, found her best stride. She rolled past a tiring leader, then whipped Regil Elektra by a length in 1:52.1.
Hidden Land, a ground-saving Anndrovette (Jason Bartlett) and Sheeza Shark N (Tyler Buter) settled for the remainder.
For Mach It A Par, a six-year-old daughter of Mach Three co-owned by D’Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, T L P and the Gandolfo Stables and trained by Richard Banca, the win was her fifth in 18 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $45.80, with the triple returning $195.
(Yonkers Raceway)