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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway returned from hiatus Friday night (June 8), with Mach It A Par (Jason Bartlett, $10.60) winning the featured $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Chris Brokate photo

Mach It A Par won by 1-1/2 lengths in a season’s-best 1:52.3.

Away fifth from post position No. 6, Mach It A Par watched as Meadows returnee Medusa (Brian Sears) led the early floor show through intervals of :27 and :56.1.

Freakonomics (Eric Goodell) took out of fourth, though not advancing all that much in and out of a 1:24 three-quarters. Mach It A Par then set sail around that one, getting first run on her rear-end rivals. Meanwhile, Medusa owned a 1-1/2 length lead off the final turn before the interlopers arrived.

Mach It A Par swallowed up the pacesetter, drawing out to win by 1-1/2 lengths in a season’s-best 1:52.3. A from-last Newborn Sassy (Jordan Stratton) grabbed second as the 6-5 favorite, with 33-1 Delightful Dragon (Brent Holland) also offering late foot for the bottom of the ticket. A tiring Medusa and Baryna A (Joe Bongiorno) settled for the minors.

For third choice Mach It A Par, an 8-year-old daughter of Mach Three co-owned by D’Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, T L P Stable and Gandolfo Stables and trained by Rich Banca, it was her fifth win in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $32.60, the triple returned $367.50 and the superfecta paid $2,686.

A reminder that the Raceway is the official ‘non-Belmont Park Belmont Stakes’ place to watch the festivities, with windows opening Saturday (June 9) in advance of Belmont’s 11:35 a.m. opener.