by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — All About Madi (Brian Sears, $11) made the lead and that was that Friday night (Sept. 22), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $50,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
In a race with not much speed, it was a two-speed number. All About Madi, from post position No. 5, worked around pole-sitting Jag Out (George Brennan), grabbing the baton before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile. She then rated a :30.1 next substation (:57.4 half).
Call Me Queen Be (Jim Marohn Jr.) was away third as the 11-10 choice, but didn’t get off the cones as Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton) made her second move. That one towed HP Sissy (Dan Dube) into it going toward the 1:25.2 three-quarters.
Off those intervals, All About Madi should have had something in reserve, and she did. Taking a 1-1/4 length lead into the lane, All About Madi held off Jag Out by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.3. HP Sissy was third, with a from-last 47-1 outsider Newborn Sassy (Tyler Buter) and Call Me Queen Be settling for the remainder.
For third choice All About Madi, a 4-year-old daughter of Brandon’s Cowboy owned and trained by Brittany Robertson, it was her eighth win (third consecutive) in 25 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $44.80, with the triple returning $230.50.