Yonkers, NY — The M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series kicked off on Tuesday night (March 2) at Yonkers Raceway with a trio of $15,000 divisions that were won by Flirty Forty, Dragon Roll and Turnthefrownaround.

Flirty Forty (Matt Kakaley), sent off at 21-1 in the first split, sat third while 1-9 favorite Pettycoat Business (George Brennan) led through fractions of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:25.3. Sound Idea (Scott Zeron) stalked Pettycoat Business from the pocket and then tipped out before they turned into the lane, with Flirty Forty tracking Sound Idea’s bid before going three-wide in the stretch. It was a thrilling battle to the finish line, but in the end, Flirty Forty had the best kick, getting up to win by a head in 1:55 1. Sound Idea was second, and Pettycoat Business had to settle for third.

Mark Ford trains Flirty Forty, a 4-year-old daughter of American Ideal, for Bay Pond Racing Stable. This was her fourth career win, and she has now earned $42,452. Flirty Forty paid $45.40 to win.

In the next section, 4-5 favorite Dragon Roll (Jason Bartlett) dashed to the lead from post five and put up stations of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:27.1. Despite the well-rated tempo, Dragon Roll had to dig in determinedly in the last quarter, initially to fend off a first-over try from Pray The Rosary (Brent Holland) and then to deal with a big close from Break The Deal (Zeron) through the stretch. Although she made the chalk players and her connections sweat it out, the line came in time for Dragon Roll to tally over Break The Deal by a nose in 1:57.1. Pray The Rosary held third.

Dragon Roll is a 4-year-old Roll With Joe mare owned and trained by Ricky Bucci. Dragon Roll now sports a record of 4-4-8 from 21 career tries, and she has pocketed $149,073. Dragon Roll returned $3.70 to win.

The last flight saw Somebeachsomefra (Zeron) pop out of the pocket to take over command from Special Achiever (Bartlett) on the way to the :28.3 opening quarter. Somebeachsomefra continued to front the field to the half in :58 and three-quarters in 1:26.3, with even-money choice Turnthefrownaround (Brennan) vacating the cones out of third early on the last turn. Somebeachsomefra still had a clear advantage turning for home and responded when Zeron called on her in the lane, but Turnthefrownaround wore her down in deep stretch to prevail by a neck in 1:56. There was a dead heat for third between Special Achiever and Off The Press (Jordan Stratton).

The winner is another 4-year-old by Roll With Joe, and is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phil Collura. Turnthefrownaround scored her fifth victory in her 30th trip behind the gate, and she has now banked $129,660. Turnthefrownaround returned $4.30 to win.

The M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series has additional preliminary legs on the next two Tuesdays (March 9 and 16), and the final is slated for March 23.

The boys take their turn in the M Life Rewards Gents Pacing Series on Wednesday night’s (March 3) 10-race card at Yonkers, competing in four divisions of their first round.