by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Apparently, Yonkers Raceway has a new incentive plan — win a race at a triple-figure mutuel, meet a former major league baseball All-Star.

John Franco and Pat Lachance exchange greetings in the winner’s circle at Yonkers.

That was the carrot at the end of the Friday night (Sept. 30) stick for trainer/driver Pat Lachance after his last-to-first, 53-1, eight-hole upset with Ace Of Clubs. The bombardier paid an even $108 to win the fifth race going away by 3-1/4 lengths.

The soggy, hotly-contested fourth race saw 3-10 choice Cartoon Daddy (Jason Bartlett) dueled into submission and finish seventh as Ace Of Clubs circled his rivals to earn his first seasonal win in his 16th seasonal start (1:58.2).

Just outside the winner’s circle was an impromptu meet-and-great with New York Mets Hall of Famer John Franco.

Franco, a native New Yorker and one of baseball’s all-time standout relief pitchers, was visiting Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway. Franco and Amazin’ fans were at Dan Rooney’s Sports Bar as the Mets took on the Philadelphia Phillies in a game with wild-card playoff implications.

Spirited conversation and autographed photos (of Franco, not Lachance, sorry, Pat) were also included in the evening.

Miki Lizzi photos

Mach It A Par was a 1:52.3 winner in the Filly and Mare Open.

Favored Mach It A Par (Jason Bartlett, $4.60) was hard-used early and hardly-used late Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s soggy $45,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

In play from her assigned post position No. 6, Mach It A Par was out into the second turn before finally making the lead. She did so from Secret’s Out N (Tyler Buter) after that one threw down a :27 opening quarter-mile.

From there, it turned into a two-speed number (:55.4, 1:24.3, 1:52.3), with Mach It A Par easily prevailing by 3-3/4 lengths. Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton) was a first-up third, with Devil Child (Dan Dube) and Al Raza N (Eric Abbatiello) grabbing the minors.

For Mach It A Pair, a 6-year-old daughter of Mach Three co-owned by D’Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, T L P and Gandolfo Stables and trained by Rich Banca, it was her ninth win in 30 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $17.40, with the triple returning $63.