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

Yonkers, NY — Caviart Cherie (Brent Holland, $39.60) was a shrewdly-driven upsetter, winning Friday night’s (April 20) $30,000 Filly and Mare Preferred Handicap Pace.

Mike Castellano photo

Caviart Cherie captures Friday evening’s featured event at Yonkers Raceway at a price.

Making the first lead from her assigned post position five, Caviart Cherie relented to Wishy Washy Girl (Jason Bartlett) before a 27-second opening quarter-mile. After a soft :301 second subsection (:57.1 half), pole-assigned Betabcool N (Joe Bongiorno) moved from third, though not much. Jewel Lehigh A (Scott Zeron) was stuck behind that dullard, the tow backpedaling before a 1:25.1 three-quarters.

Meanwhile, Freakonomics (Eric Goodell) and 17-10 choice Carobbean Pacetry (Jordan Stratton) both ducked back inside, awaiting room and running out of real estate.

Wishy Washy Girl owned a length lead into the lane, but Caviart Cherie—last seen here winning last month’s final of the Petticoat Pacing Series—edged out and edged by. The latter beat the former by a half-length in 1:55. Freakonomics and Carobbean Pacetry were a belated third and fourth, respectively, with Jewel Lehigh A and Betabcool N bringing up the rear of the half-dozen.

For rank outsider Caviart Cherie, a 4-year-old daughter of Well Said owned by Joe P Racing and trained by Matias Ruiz, it was her eighth win in 13 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $205.50, with the triple returning $700.

Saturday night (April 21), the Raceway’s presents North America’s two richest race of the season to date

$373,000 FINAL, BLUE CHIP MATCHMAKER
(9th race)
PP-Horse Driver M/L

1-Shartin N Tim Tetrick 8-5
2-Sell a Bit N Jordan Stratton 7-2
3-Medusa Yannick Gingras 6-1
4-Lady Shadow Jason Bartlett 7-2
5-Motu Moonbeam N Brent Holland 20-1
6-Dude’salady Scott Zeron 15-1
7-Twinkle Eric Goodell 20-1
8-Lakeisha Hall George Brennan 15-1

$532,000 FINAL, GEORGE MORTON LEVY
MEMORIAL PACING SERIES (10th race)
PP-Horse Driver M/L

1-Western Fame Mark MacDonald 7-1
2-Dr. J Hanover Brett Miller 9-2
3-Keystone Velocity Dan Dube 5-2
4-Evenin of Pleasure Joe Bongiorno 8-1
5-Somewhere in L A Jason Bartlett 5-1
6-Mach it So Dave Miller 4-1
7-Bit of a Legend N Jordan Stratton 9-1
8-Rockin’ Ron Yannick Gingras 20-1

First post for the $1.3 million card is the usual 6:50 p.m.