by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — With the Stanley Cup playoffs down to the nitty and the gritty, it was apropos that Krispy Apple (Jason Bartlett, $3.20) would record a Friday night hat trick. She had to work a bit harder for this one than the previous two, but she was more than up to it, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $42,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace in convincing fashion.

Sean Hamrock photo

Jason Bartlett drove Krispy Apple to the victory on Friday night.

Ordered outside her seven rivals, the 3-5 favorite fell into line fourth as Jonsie Jones (Tyler Buter) paid a :26.4 price for the privilege of leading the way. Witch Dali (Jordan Stratton) strung that one out, with pole-assigned Canaco Star (Dan Dube) third.

In Turn 2 Krispy Apple was moving again, making the lead by the :55.1 intermission. She went Westchester wide, however, as Witch Dali pulled the pocket before aborting that attempt. Meanwhile, the new leader was well in hand at the 1:23.2 three-quarters, taking a two length lead into the lane.

The final margin was 2-1/2 lengths in 1:53, a length closer and a few ticks slower than her previous two wins, but she is getting older.

For Krispy Apple, a 7-year-old millionaire daughter of Western Ideal co-owned by Bamond Racing and Joseph Davino and trained by Jeffrey Bamond Jr., it was her fourth win in nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $30.80, with the triple returning $179.

The Raceway’s live season continues Saturday night (post time 7:10 p.m., with eliminations for the Art Rooney Pace). After that, it’s Memorial Night Monday (7:10 p.m.) and Tuesday (1 p.m., two finals in the Jackpot Next Door Claiming Series).