by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Locally-debuting Blue Moon Stride (Brian Sears, $5.80) handled the Westchester crowd with few issues Friday night (June 30), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $55,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Georgia Panagi photo

Blue Moon finally visits the winner’s circle in 2017 after capturing the feature at Yonkers on Saturday.

The field, thorough first half-mile raindrops, was pared to a half-dozen after Call Me Queen Be, who was ill and Sell A Bit N was late for Lasix were both withdrawn.

In play from post position four, as she was in once notch due to one of those defections, Blue Moon Stride worked around She’sjusadelight N (Ron Cushing), taking the lead right at a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.

It was a :56 intermission before last week’s victress, Freeze Out (George Brennan), moved from fifth. That one, as the 13-10 favorite, challenged the leader in and out of a 1:23.3 three-quarters before being put away.

Blue Moon Stride opened a couple of lengths entering the lane before widening her stride to win by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:52.2. She’sjustadelight N chased with no shot, while Freeze Out tired to third. I Deal In Kisses (Dan Dube) and Venus Delight (Brent Holland) came away with the minors, while Jewel Leigh A (Mark MacDonald) was always outrun.

For second choice Blue Moon Stride, a 4-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover Aussie co-owned by Emilio & Marie Rosati and trained by Mark Harder, it was her first win in 16 seasonal starts (career earnings over $760,000). The exacta paid $15.20, the triple returned $30.40 and the superfecta was refunded due to insufficient starters.

A reminder regarding Saturday’s (July 1 simulcast of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby from the Curragh. Races three through eight shall be imported, with the Derby going as the seventh race with an approximate post of 12:20 p.m. Mutuel windows, on the fourth floor only have an early 10 a.m. opening.