by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Pocket-sitting favorite Lispatty (Joe Bongiorno, $5.50) picked off pace-setting Caviart Cherie (Jason Bartlett) Friday night (July 20), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Katy Gazzini photo

Lispatty whipped Caviart Cherie by a widening 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.

Alertly away from post position No. 2, Lispatty took that early seat behind her rival as that one threw down early intervals of :27.3 and :56. Down the backside the second time, Medusa (Dan Dube) moved first-up from fourth, offering just token annoyance in and out of a 1:23.4 three-quarters (:27.4 third quarter).

Caviart Cherie owned a 1-1/2 length lead entering the lane when Lispatty took a peek from the pocket. She then ducked back in waiting for Medusa to back away, then edged out and by. Lispatty whipped Caviart Cherie by a widening 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52. Bronze Over N (Brent Holland), Medusa and Newborn Sassy (Jordan Stratton) came away with the minors.

For Lipatty, a 5-year-old daughter of McArdle owned by Gilbert Garcia-Owen and trained by Gilberto Garcia-Herrera, it was her sixth win in in 21 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $23.60, the triple returned $120 and the superfecta paid $544.

Special Friday props to Safe From Terror, whose second-place finish in the $29,000 12th race pacing finale made her the sport’s newest millionaire. The 6-year-old daughter of Western Terror has earned $1,006,077 with a resume of 128 starts, 53 wins, 18 seconds and 15 third-place finishes. The mare, driven by Holland, is owned by Big Bad DT Racing Stable and trained by Virgil Morgan Jr.