Delightful Diva (George Brennan) completed the three-peat Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $52,000 co-featured Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace
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Ordered outside her seven rivals--then undaunted by a tough time getting the lead--the 3-5 "Diva" made the lead around Lightning Dragon (Cat Manzi) after a :26.3 opening quarter-mile.
Delightful Diva then found a :55.3 half before Symphony In Motion (Jeff Gregory) moved from sixth. That one offered mild pressure past the 1:24.2 three-quarters, with Delightful Diva owning a length-and-a-half lead turning for home.
The people's choice hit the mile marker in 1:53.1 before holding off a zig-zagging Breakheart Pass (Jim Pantaleano) by a half-length. Delightful Diva negotiated the mile-and-one-sixteenth in 2:00.1, with Symphony In Motion, Bet On Luck (Eric Goodell) and Ramona Disomma (Jordan Stratton) grabbing the remainder.
For Delightful Diva, a six-year-old Bettors Delight lass owned by KDM Stables and trained by Lou Pena, she returned $3.20 for her eighth win in 22 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $36.60, the triple returned $128.50 and the superfecta paid $1,090.
Friday night's co-featured $52,000 Open Handicap Trot found millionaire Grain Of Truth (Gregory) pocketed, then passing 2-1 favourite T Js Mr Lavec (Manzi). The former, leaving from post position No. 3, watched "T J" lead through early intervals of :28 and :58.1. Wuthering Hanover (Stratton) was a weak first-over before the 1:27 three-quarters, with Looking Hanover (Goodell) on that one's rear.
T Js Mr Lavec, with a length-and-a-half lead entering the lane, could not stave off his closest pursuer as Grain Of Truth ducked inside. He closed ranks by the 1:56 mile, before winning by a half-length in an added-distance 2:03. Calchips Brute (Dan Dube), Looking Hanover and a fumbly-starting Donttellmywife (Brennan) completing the cashers.
For Grain Of Truth, a 10-year-old Self Possessed gelding trained by Ray Schnittker for co-owners Charles and Giorgan Iannazzo, he returned $9.80 (second choice) for his sixth win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $34, with the triple returning $209.50.
The weekly featured trot was also Leg C of the United States Trotting Association's Back to the Track Pick 4 (total pool $30,069, winning numbers 5 [Meadowlands]/2 [Northfield]/3 [Yonkers]/6 [Maywood] returned $196.50 for a $1 ticket).
(Yonkers Raceway)