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

Yonkers, NY — Odds-on favorite Capela (Scott Zeron, $3.10) maintained her form spree Monday night (March 28), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $60,200 final of the Petticoat Pacing Series.

The series was open to 3- and 4-year-olds who were non-winners of four races and/or $40,000 through last Dec. 1.

Mike Lizzi photo

Capela was a 1:54.4 winner for driver Scott Zeron.

Capela, the lone lass to sweep her three series preliminary rounds, made short work of post position No. 7 here. She worked around the miss directly inside of her, Bin N Heaven (George Brennan), securing the lead before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile.

From there, came a :57 intermission as I’m In Luv (Matt Kakaley) moved from fourth. It was Little Miss Sporty (Brian Sears) gapping from second-over and pole-sitting Brown Brinny (Jason Bartlett) sitting a three-hole in and out of a 1:25.3 three-quarters.

Capela widened to a couple of lengths entering the lane, then won by that exact same margin in 1:54.4. Bin N Heaven saved second, with 63-1 shot Heavenly Hill (Jordan Stratton) closing from last to third. Brown Brinny and I’m In Luv grabbed the last couple of pay envelopes, while Little Miss Sporty, Special Package (Dan Dube) and Rolling Going Gone (Brent Holland) completed the order.

For Capela, a 4-year-old daughter of Sportsmaster trained by Reginald Hazzard for co-owners Reginald Hazzard II and Legacy Racing of Delaware, it was her sixth consecutive win (six-for-nine this season). The exacta paid $25.80, with the triple returning $459.50.

“She’s just been getting better each start in this series,” Zeron said. “When it started, she wasn’t taking the turns very well, but that wasn’t a problem in her last couple of races. Tonight, with the wind, that was a very good mile.”

A $25,000 series consolation was won by favored Kryptos ($4.30) — now five-for-five in her season/career — in 1:55.4.

Tuesday afternoon, it’s the $63.000 finale of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series for the 3- and 4-year-olds of the male persuasion. It’s the Raceway’s richest race of the season to date.