A resurgent Tessa Seelster (George Brennan, $10) proved best Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
Away fourth from her assigned post position No. 6, ‘Tessa’ saw pole-sitting Jungle Genie N (Brent Holland) seat everyone early. ‘Genie’ paid a :27.1 price for the privilege before 11-10 favourite Rock N Roll Xample (Dan Dube) made her second move.
Leaving into a three-hole, she went by Jungle Genie N right at the quarter-mile, then led the ladies through a :55.4 intermission.
Tessa Seelster then made her second move, out to engage the fave down the backside. Rock N Roll Xample continued to lead in and out of a 1:24 three-quarters, where it appeared she put her stalker away.
The lead was a length and a half in and out of the final turn, but Rock N Roll Xample was about to fade from the scene. Tessa Seelster found renewed life, though, getting the better of Jungle Genie N by a length in 1:52.2.
Mach It A Par (Brian Sears), last of the seven entering the lane, rallied for third, with Secrets Out N (Tyler Buter) and Al Raza N (Mark MacDonald) rounding out the payees. Rock N Roll Xample tired to sixth.
For second choice Tessa Seelster, a four-year-old daughter of Shadow Play co-owned by trainer Ron Burke (as Burke Racing), Weaver Bruscemi and Jonathan Newman, the win was her eighth in 18 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $144, with the triple returning $574.
A friendly reminder from Yonkers Raceway that Saturday evening’s (September 17) Pick 5 wager begins with a carryover of $2,422.49. The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager comprising races seven through 11 during every racing program. It has no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners (as was the case Friday night), the entire pool (minus takeout) moves to the next program.
(Yonkers Raceway)