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

Yonkers, NY — A first-up Freeze Out (Jordan Stratton, $8.10) did it with a flourish Friday night (May 12), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $55,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace for a fifth consecutive victory.

Gabriela Trmal photo

Freeze Out wins her fifth straight with a new lifetime mark of 1:53.2.

Away fifth from post position four, Freeze Out was uninvolved early as Call Me Queen Be (Scott Zeron) quarter-moved past Apple Bottom Jeans (George Brennan). Call Me Queen Be made the lead just at :27.4 opening quarter-mile, then found a :56.2 intermission.

Freeze Out took aim at her target going by a 1:25 three-quarters, then went past early in the lane. Freeze Out finished out winning by a 1-1/2 length margin in a life-best 1:53.2.

Apple Bottom Jeans, compromised sitting behind a tiring leader, closed inside for second, with Sassa Hanover (Matt Kakaley), Jag Out (Brent Holland) and a never-in-it 8-5 choice Mach It A Par (Brian Sears) rounding out the payees.

For third choice Freeze Out, a 4-year-old daughter of American Ideal owned and trained by Ricky Bucci, it was her seventh win in 13 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $138, the triple returned $890 and the superfecta paid $2,389. During her form spree, she hasn’t once been sent off as the betting favorite.