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

Yonkers, NY — Favored Devil Child (Eric Goodell, $6.30) was gifted an early pocket and then held off the cavalry Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Mike Lizzi photo

Devil Child bests her rivals to capture Friday evening’s featured event at Yonkers Raceway.

In play from post position five, she and her inside foe, Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton) both had designs on the lead. The latter made it before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile as Devil Child found a wide berth in front of Rock N Roll Xample (Dan Dube). A cheapy :56.2 half should have played the leader, but why give away the ending here? Secret’s Out N (Tyler Buter) offered just token, first-up abuse in and out of a 1:24.4 three-quarters, with Sell a Bit N owning a length lead into the lane.

However, the leading lass wasn’t up to it here, tiring noticeably…but not until she carried Devil Child where she needed to go. Devil Child ducked inside and was able to get the jump on her belated foes. She whipped a flying-from-last Mach It A Par (Jason Bartlett) by a 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4, with Regil Elektra (Joe Bongiorno) a late-arriving third. Tessa Seelster (George Brennan) and Rock N Roll Xample rounded out the payees, the five cashers separated by just a 1-3/4 lengths at the wire.

For Devil Child, a 4-year-old statebred daughter of American Ideal co-owned by Susan Oakes & Crawford Farms Racing and trained by Chris Oakes, it was her sixth win in 18 seasonal starts.

The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $40.40, with the triple returning $324.