by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Hidden Viggorish picked a bad night to have a bad night.

The late-season femme fatale among 3-year-old trotting fillies, Hidden Viggorish put her 10-race winning streak on display in Saturday night’s (Nov. 25) $330,476 final of the Hudson Filly Trot at Yonkers Raceway.

The public loved her, sending her off at a scant 35 cents on the dollar. Unfortunately for she and they, the first turn did not.

Hidden Viggorish, who drew post seven, was easing her way in and out of the opening bend when she misbehaved — the first of several unforced errors during her evening. So much for the $30,000 supplemental entry fee.

“I just couldn’t get her straightened out,” trainer/driver Brian Zendt said. “I thought I if caught the pack and picked up cover, she’d be fine, but she broke again. She’d never been on a half before last week (elimination win), but that wasn’t much of a race for her.”

Yonkers Raceway photo

Queen Serene and Trond Smedshammer won the Hudson Filly Trot in 1:57.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the eight hole proved no problem for last week’s other elimination winner, Queen Serene.

The daughter of Dream Vacation adroitly negotiated her route, settling in fifth early before grabbing the front around 28-1 proposition Velma K (Stephane Bouchard).

Queen Serene secured the lead just past the :29.4 opening quarter-mile, found the intermission in :58.3 and the three-quarters in 1:27.4. Turning for the bright lights and big coin, she need only hold off the pocket-sitter.

She did, striding out to win by three lengths in 1:57. Velma K easily held second, another three lengths in front of 37-1 outsider Spellyuptothebar (Pat Berry). Victor’s Finesse (Jody Jamieson) and Incredible Fortuna (Jeff Gregory) grabbed the scraps, while KD Girl (Mark Gingrich), Winning Sister (Ron Pierce) and the hard-luck Hidden Viggorish raced for those oh-so-precious memories one just can’t put a price on.

Queen Serene, owned by Timo Panula, returned $7.60 as the second choice, leading a $144 exacta and $3,731 triple.

”She’s just tough,” winning trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer said. “She doesn’t seem to care what size track she races on. She beat Passionate Glide in the second heat of the Kentucky Filly Futurity.

“It’s too bad she’s made breaks during some big races, or she’d have much more money on her card.”

Her card now reads eight wins in 18 seasonal starts with earnings of nearly $560,000.

Hey, it’s good to be the Queen.