Delitfulcatherin N posted her fourth win in her last five appearances in the Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway, taking Thursday's (Sept. 8) edition of that event in 1:51.3.
Driven by Jordan Stratton, Delitfulcatherin N found a seat in third from post 6 and watched as Blue Chip Matchmaker Series champion Drama Act drove forward two wide and took the lead away from Reachthruthesky As after a :26.4 opening quarter. Stratton then put Delitfulcatherin N in motion first over on the second turn, and she would brush by Drama Act beyond the :55.1 half.
After Delitfulcatherin N took command, that left Siesta Beach first up and she was left on the rim to the 1:23 three-quarters. Behind the battling leaders, McMarkle Sparkle went three wide from second over on the final bend, while a third-over Dragon Roll was able to navigate down to the pylons in the pocket as Drama Act retreated.
All the while Delitfulcatherin N remained the boss. And while Dragon Roll gave it an effort on the inside in the stretch, and McMarkle Sparkle tried to surge while widest, Delitfulcatherin N had plenty left in the tank to the wire and would defeat Dragon roll by a length and a half. McMarkle Sparkle was third, followed by Siesta Beach, Reachthruthesky As, and Drama Act.
Jeff Gillis trains the victorious six-year-old Bettors Delight mare for owner Mark Ford. This was her 17th victory, and she has now earned $270,934. The 4-5 favourite, Delitfulcatherin N paid $3.60 to win and led a $15.00 exacta and a $45.60 trifecta.
In other news from the Thursday program, keyed mainly by a 40-1 upset by Dbldelitebrigade N in the opening leg, the Pick 5 was not hit, resulting in a $3,577.42 carryover and a $15,000 guaranteed pool in the sequence on Friday night (Sept. 9).
The guarantee in the Pick 5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. The Pick 5, which begins in Race 5, has a takeout rate of 20 percent.
Friday night’s 10-race program gets underway at 6:55 p.m. (EDT). Yonkers is currently operating on a Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-
(Yonkers)