by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — She beat the gate, then beat her foes, both with the greatest of ease. Caviart Cherie (Jordan Stratton, $20.20) offered an eight-hole tour de force Monday night (March 26), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $62,000 final of the Petticoat Pacing Series.
There wasn’t much to the finale, which wrapped up a four-week series for 3- and 4-year-old lasses who were non-winners of four races and/or $40,000 through last Dec. 1. All finalists were 4-year-olds.
Caviart Cherie, one of four ladies who had won twice in the prelims, quickly negated the ill-effects of an open-draw. Leaving with the speed of a runner, Caviart Cherie hurdled the field early in the first turn. While doing so, she looped 4-5 favorite Diamondtoothgertie (George Brennan), that one eventually finding a seat fourth.
Caviart Cherie threw it down, as a :26.4 opening quarter-mile and :55.2 intermission. Chasing from a loose pocket was Jk Jazzitup (Mark MacDonald), with Gotthisone Hanover (Yannick Gingras) away third.
Diamondtoothegertie moved from fourth, but never came within shouting distance of Caviart Cherie. After a 1:23.3 three-quarters, the lead was three lengths entering the lane. The final margin was 1-1/2 lengths in a season’s-best 1:54. Second went to Jk Jazzitup, with Diamondtoothgertie salvaging the bottom of the ticket. Dali Delight (Dan Dube), coupled with Jk Jazzitup, and Absolutely Best (Jason Bartlett) settled for the minors. D G’s Elsa (Eric Goodell), Gotthisone Hanover and Lusty Delight (Greg Merton) completed the order.
For third choice Caviart Cherie, a 4-year-old daughter of Well Said owed by Joe P Racing and trained by Matias Ruiz, it was her seventh win (with three seconds) in 11 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $69, with the triple returning $129.
“She overcame the eight-hole,” was Stratton’s succinct post-mortem.
“A shout-out to Matt Kakaley, who drove her very well,” said Scott Pennacchio, son of Joe P Racing principal Joseph Pennacchio. “He gets a lot of the credit, and we hope he’s back soon.”
A $30,000 series consolation was won by favored Pull The Shade (Scott Zeron, $5.70) in 1:55.3, matching her week-old, life-best effort.
Tuesday night (March 27), it’s the Raceway’s annual Teddy Roosevelt testimonial, as the Sagamore Hill concludes with a final worth $63,400.