Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s soggy Friday (Dec. 5) night $35,000 featured Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace was won by a down-the-road Sayitall BB (George Brennan, $3.80).

The Breeders Crown champ—and lone 3-year-old here—was odds-on and assigned outside her five elders. She quickly negated that nuisance, sloshing around Grounded (Jason Bartlett) and taking it to the house (:27.3, :57.2, 1:25.3, 1:54.3).

Coffee Addict (Dan Dube) moved from third down the backside, but was originally dismissed entering the far turn.

That one did hang around a bit while Sayitall BB owned a two-length lead into the lane.

Four of her rivals fanned out in attempt to catch her, but none could. The final margin was three-quarters of a length over rank outsider Dune in Red (Tyler Buter), with Palm Patrol (Larry Stalbaum), Coffee Addict and a belated Robin Cruiser (Jordan Stratton) completing the cashers. Grounded finished last.

For Sayitall BB, a daughter of Tell All co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi, it was her 10th win in 16 seasonal starts ($519,910) . The exacta paid $28.20, with the triple returning $183.50.

The Raceway’s five-program-per-week live schedule changes, with first post every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM, and the fifth of six Sunday matinees (replacing Tuesday evenings) this weekend at 11 AM.

— Frank Drucker

The Meadows
Whata Donato yielded to the pocket behind Anaffairtoremember, then brushed by her inside to capture her second straight Lightning Lane victory in Friday’s (Dec. 5) $20,000 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows. Trainer/driver Doug Snyder hustled Whata Donato to a relatively easy lead while the parked-out Anaffairtoremember didn’t see the cones until the three-eighths. That was the edge Whata Donato needed, as she knifed through the slop to score in 1:55.4. Anaffairtoremember gamely held place, 2-1/4 lengths back, with Magic Wheel third. Frank Poerio, Jr. campaigns Whata Donato, a 4-year-old daughter of Donato Hanover-Donven Promise who extended her career bankroll to $166,641. Mike Wilder drove four winners and Dave Palone three on the 15-race card.

Batavia Downs
After taking the top mares trot just seven days ago, Fiorentina came right back and forced her hand again while winning the $9,000 Batavia Downs feature on Friday night (Dec. 5). At the start of the race as Fiorentina (Kevin Cummings) was going to the front, Iza Bella (Shawn McDonough) made a break and scattered the field. So when Fiorentina hit the quarter in :28.4, the five horses behind her were spread out 12 lengths apart. As the race progressed with Fiorentina calling the shots, the group tightened up behind her and by the three-quarter pole, the five were double-decked and within three lengths of each other. But they were arguing for minor spoils as Fiorentina was trotting with desire and was not about to be denied. The 5-year-old Angus Hall mare won in 1:59.3 by 2-1/2 lengths. Dayplanner (Dave McNeight III) was second and Iza Bella recovered from her break to finish third. It was the seventh win in 22 starts this year for Fiorentina ($5.30) and it raised her earnings total to $49,380 for owners Frank Lamacchia and Guy Polillo. John Mungillo trains the winner. Drivers Kevin Cummings, Drew Monti and Dave McNeight III all scored driving doubles on the night. The 2014 Batavia Downs meet has come down to its final 24 races and the action begins on Saturday (Dec. 6) at 12:15 p.m. when the first half of a closing day double-header kicks off. The nightcap begins at 6:35 p.m. and both cards feature 12 races. The Pick-6 carryover is $9,034 and it will be paid out tomorrow.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
The big month continued on Friday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway for trainer Jody Weidman and driver Jay Randall. The tandem has been a dynamic duo over the past few weeks at the Spa. Weidman’s Bluebird Jamaican won the Spa Loyalty Claiming Series last weekend and earned over $18,000 in the three weeks of the series. The 4-year-old trotter continued his hot streak on Friday night as he scored a convincing victory in the evening’s opener. Lucid Thoughts (Cash Hall) completed a double for his connections as Weidman and Randall teamed up for a score in the $8,000 featured trotting race on Friday. The 6-year-old trotter went wire-to-wire in 1:57.4 to record his fifth victory of the season. Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with first post time set for 6:45 p.m.