Eager to court the female vote, Yonkers Raceway Friday night hosted eliminations for the Lady Maud Pace.
Fourteen three-year-old fillies were daintily divided into a pair of $20,000 elimination events, with the first four finishers in each trial returning for the $381,030 final, set for Saturday night, October 25.
Artimittateslife left here on a roll, and the lone $30,000 supplemental entrant into this race returned to do more good deeds. The statebred Art Major ma'am, a champ in both Empire and open stakes company, won the second elim--her fifth consecutive victory--in stalking style.
With Stephane Bouchard taking his customary local seat for customary local trainer Ed Hart, 'Artimittates' was alert from post position No. 6. The 8-5 people's choice nestled in behind her pylon rival, Hannah Isabel (Yannick Gingras) while that one led around comfort stations of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:27.1.
Artimittateslife then edged toward the passing the lane, and pass she did, getting to 'Hannah' by a half-length in 1:55.2. Stylish Artist (Dave Miller) tried it first-over and lasted for third, with Lismore winner Thong (George Brennan) fourth.
Artimittateslife, co-owned by the Canadian contingent of Bob Young, Paul Gazzola and Brian Barton, has won 11 of her 16 seasonal starts ($550,389). She paid $5.50, leading a $10.60 exacta and $47.20 triple.
Cheyenne Trish, driven by Jim Meittinis for trainer Robbie Siegelman, saved all the ground from post No. 5 in the first elimination, getting away fifth, she was content watching 13-10 second choice, Happy Dreamer (Andy Miller), grab the throttle. Happy Dreamer went through unpressured early intervals of :28.1 and :58.1.
Good News Lady (Greg Grismore), the 11-10 favorite, hardly resembled a Jugette winner here. She came first-up, prompting Happy Dreamer to a :27.3 third quarter (1:25.4).
The people's preference was done early stretch, tiring to fifth and out of the final.
Meanwhile, Happy Dreamer looked to her left and found trouble to her inside. Pole-sitting pocket protector Sand Pleasure (Jason Bartlett) ducked in, with Cheyenne Trish skimming the cones even closer. The latter prevailed by a half-length in 1:54.2. Happy Dreamer held second-over Sand Pleasure, with See And Be Seen (Brennan) absconding with this elim's final "final" berth.
For 'Trish,' a daughter of Artiscape leased by the Cheyenne Gang, She returned $20.60 (fourth choice) for her ninth win in 21 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $84.50, with the triple good for $435.50.
Friday night's pair of $40,000 Open Handicaps--for trotters and distaff pacers, respectively--went to Light Headed (Dan Dube, 1:57.4), returning $32.40, and Binions (Grismore, 1:55.2), the favorite paying $5.50.
For those who haven't been paying attention, next Saturday night also features the $650,000 Messenger Stakes. World champion Somebeachsomewhere--fastest pacer of all-time and richest pacer of 2008--takes on Adios/Little Brown Jug/Windy City winner Shadow Play (a $60,000 buy-in) and four three-year-old colts in the final jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown.
(With files from Yonkers)