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

YONKERS, NY – In racing parlance, Percee Angus is one tough broad.

Ordered to the outside–yet again–in Friday night’s co-featured, $35,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway, “Percee” managed to get her picture taken–yet again.

With Greg Grismore taking his customary chair, Percee Angus left into an early 3-hole behind an anxious Kole’s Return (Jack Baggitt Jr.). That one made the lead before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile and maintained it through a :55.4 midpoint.

All the while, Ashland Blue (Tim Tetrick) went searching for a seat, but not even schmoozing the maître d’ would have done her any good early on. By the time she found a hole in sixth, she was already headed in the wrong direction.

Kole’s Return led toward the 1:24.4 three-quarters before Percee Angus took her shot. She engaged the pacesetter in and out of the final turn, eventually grinding her into submission. “Percee” then held off the late charge of 19-10 favorite Alexi Killean (Tony Morgan), who showed up late from third-over.

“Percee” prevailed by a length in 1:53.1, with Stonebridge Luau (Steve Smith)–closing deep in the passing lane to grab the bottom of the ticket–Best Chance Hanna (Pat Lachance) and the dead-heat duo of Whambam N (Jim Marshall III) and Lislea Bella (Jeff Gregory) also earning their way.

“Percee’s” form spree now includes three consecutive victories, hitting the board in her last seven tries (5 wins, 2 seconds) and 13-of-14 (9 wins, 4 seconds) dating to early March.

“She’s just a super nice (mare) to drive,” Grismore said, “No bad habits and (trainer) Jules (Czermann Jr.) always has her in great shape. From an eight-hole, you never know what sort of trip you’re gonna get, but things worked out well tonight.”

For Percee Angus, a 5-year-old daughter of Blissfull Hall co-owned by Fred & Anita Fialkow, it was her 11th victory in 20 seasonal starts and 32nd win over the past two seasons. She returned $8.60 (third choice), leading a $26.40 exacta, $159.50 triple and $389 superfecta. Her career season now finds earnings in excess of $184,000.

Friday night’s $35,000 co-featured, Open Handicap Trot saw form tossed out the window early when 3/4 favorite Beach Nut Brand (Tetrick)–he of the three-peat winning streak–jumped it off at the start. That left Kaline and chauffeur Smith on the get-go from post No. 5 to finagle the fractions.

Stepping around Classical Man (Jim Meittinis) in the abbreviated assemblage (inside assignee Clayton Delaney was a judges’ defection), Kaline made the lead and controlled the caucus through fractions of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:29.

Dealing with a second move of Designable (Jim Marohn), the leader held both that one and Tasty Max (Morgan, four wins from just seven drives on the 10-race card) at bay. He was three-quarters of a length to the good in a snappy 1:57.4.

Like Percee Angus, Kaline is also enjoying a career season, now with ’07 income of just under $127,000.

Designable and Tasty Max tied for second, with Classical Man and Grain of Truth (Stephane Bouchard) along for the unclaimed portions. Beach Nut Brand, who never could get out of his own way, was distanced.

Kaline, an 8-year-old Malabar Man gelding, won his sixth race in 19 seasonal starts for owner/trainer Jim Petruccelli, paying $13.40 as the third choice.

“I had no idea that (Beach Nut Brand) had made a break,” Smith said. “I just thought that from here, mine had a shot to get out there.

“Usually, he’s a handful scoring down, but the last time I thought I could leave with him, he just wasn’t acting right…pulled himself off the gate. Tonight, he had my complete attention and just about took my (ahem, rear end) right out of the seat getting out of there.”

Live racing is currently offered at Yonkers with six programs per week–Monday through Saturday nights at 7:40 PM. The spring meet ends Saturday night with a usual 10-race program.