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

Yonkers, NY — Favored Newborn Sassy (Jordan Stratton, $4) rated her rivals into submission Friday night (Aug. 3), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Katy Gazzini photo

Newborn Sassy was a 1:52.3 winner in the Friday feature.

Away alertly from assigned post position No. 5, Newborn Sassy worked around Caviart Cherie, making the lead before a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. She then pilfered a :29.2 second quarter (:57.1 intermission), effectively ending the melodrama.

Agent Q (birthday boy Eric Goodell) tried it first-up third from third, speeding up the sojourn but never getting close in and out of a 1:24.3 three-quarters. With that foe dispensed, Newborn Sassy opened a 1-1/4 length lead into the lane. She then beat the other ladies up, widening to 3-3/4 lengths at the 1:52.3 wire. Second went to Caviart Cherie, with a third-over Magic Forces (George Brennan) third. Bronze Over N (Dan Dube) and Made Of Jewel AS (Joe Bongiorno) settled for the minors.

For Newborn Sassy, a 5-year-old daughter of Western Ideal owned by CC Racing and Joann Looney-King and trained by Jim King Jr., it was her sixth win in 23 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $16.20, the triple returned $122.50 and the superfecta paid $657.

Note the Raceway shall open earlier (11:30 a.m.) for Saturday (Aug. 4) simulcasting in advance of early post times from the Meadowlands (Hambletonian), the Meadows and Gulfstream.