Fleur De Lil A (catch-driver Eric Goodell) closed from third-over Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $42,500 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace
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Leaving from post position No. 5, "Lil" was content to watch as LR Dancing Dream (Jim Pantaleano) led through fractions of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:24.3. Little Mermaid N (Stephane Bouchard), the very slight 2-1 choice, was pocketed while Hannah Isabel (Cat Manzi) was first-up.
Cuz She Can (Matt Kakaley), gapping a bit second-over, found her best foot in the lane, but couldn't match strides with Fleur De Lil A. The latter edged away by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1. Symphony In Motion (Jeff Gregory)--closing from last--Little Mermaid N and LR Dancing Dream grabbed the small change.
For Fleur De Lil A, a seven-year-old Down Under Armbro Operative mare owned by Luke McCarthy and trained by Noel Daley, she returned $18.40 (fifth choice) for her fourth win in 15 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $106, with the triple returning $824.
Friday night's co-featured $42,500 Open Handicap Trot found Master Pine (Jason Bartlett) overcome the eight-hole with the time-test MO of improving position, saving ground and surging at just the right time.
After Winnin Image (Terry Morgan) and Tasty Max (Bouchard) took turns with the early (:28.1, :57.4) lead, KLM Express (Jim Marshall III) rolled from fourth. That one grabbed the advantage just after intermission.
He widened down the backside, but began to come back to the gang around the 1:26.4 three-quarters. Y F Little Guy (Pantaleano), the 4-5 choice, took up the chase, with Shoeless White Sox (Gregory) angling outside and Master Pine ducking in. KLM Express owned a length-and-a-quarter lead turning for home, then held off all but one.
Master Pine went the short route, going inside and grabbing the stubborn leader by a length in 1:56.3. Shoeless White Sox (Gregory), Summertime Yankee (Kakaley) and Y F Little Guy also earned appearance fees.
For Master Pine, a seven-year-old Mater Lavec gelding trained by Julie Miller for co-owners Mark Moger and Albert Delia Jr., he returned $20.60 (fourth choice) for his ninth victory (second consecutive) in 22 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $222.50, with the triple returning $2,213.
Saturday night's 13-race card is part of the USTA's "Back to the Track" promotion, including Empire Terrace dinner giveaways drawn after the first nine races, a USTA's sponsored trip the Little Brown Jug drawn after the 10th race, Jason Bartlett Bobble Head dolls to new and existing Empire Club members (while supplies last) and the "Back to the Track Pick 4" with a $50,000 guaranteed pool. Yonkers' ninth race is Leg C of that dollar-minimum wager.
(Yonkers Raceway)