by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Odds-on Newborn Sassy (Jordan Stratton, $3.70) overcame seven rivals and a scattering Friday night (Sept. 8), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $50,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
Chris Brokate photo
Newborn Sassy captures the featured event at Yonkers Raceway on Friday evening.
Away fourth from post position five, Newborn Sassy watched as Jag Out (George Brennan) leave around Lovineveryminute (Brent Holland), paying a :26.4, first-quarter privilege for the lead. In the second turn, the latter was attempting to leapfrog past the former when the pair locked wheels.
That unscheduled bit of loveliness caused all the ladies in behind to alter their routes, with any number either breaking and/or going wide and 59-1 longshot trailer Betabcool N (Greg Merton) leaving the course.
After the discourse, Newborn Sassy—one of the those breakers—righted the ship and moved to the lead, with Betabcool N taking the very abbreviated way back to the oval and into the pocket. The half was a an incident-slowed :58.1, after which Newborn Sassy finished it off (1:26.1, 1:54.3).
The margin was 1-1/2 lengths into the lane and 1-3/4 lengths at the wire. Betabcool N was second, with Princess Fabulosa (Eric Goodell), HP Sissy (Brian Sears) and Acefourtyfour Alex (Joe Bongiorno) settling for the remainder.
After a lengthy inquiry, the judges made no placements, deeming Betabcool N should not be penalized for shortening her trip to avoid the impediments in front of her.
For Newborn Sassy, a 4-year-old daughter of Western Ideal co-owned by trainer Jim King Jr. and CC Racing LLC, it was her sixth win in 10 seasonal starts. The mare is a career 4-for-5 here, including last season’s Lady Maud. The exacta paid $199, the triple returned $807 and the superfecta paid $17,433 from a base $2 payout.