by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Odds-on favorite Rev Me Up won Friday night’s (March 12) sloppy $46,900 final of the Hopeful Pacing Series for 3-year-old fillies, earning Yonkers Raceway’s first series finale of the season.

With Jason Bartlett — five winners on the 12-race card — driving for trainer Ron Burke, the daughter of Park Place easily conquered her elements and her adversaries.

Mike Lizzi photo

Rev Me Up was a 2:00.1 winner in the Hopeful Series Final for fillies.

Leaving from post position No. 3, the 1-2 choice negotiated the wind-driven rain through intervals of :30, 1:00.2, 1:30 and 2:00.1. Rev Me Up defeated 25-1 shot O Lucky Me (Jeff Gregory) by 2-3/4 lengths, with 41-1 proposition Briefly (Steve Smith) rallying very well to grab third. Dragon Princess (Cat Manzi) and Angelino (Jordan Stratton) completed the cashers.

Rev Me Up, co-owned by Earl Smith and Frank Baldachino, returned $3 for her third win in five seasonal starts. The exacta paid $24.80, the triple returned $194.50 and the superfecta paid $331.

“There’s not a whole lot not to like with her,” Bartlett said. “She won her only series start easily, and she handled the track very well tonight.

“I drove her like she was the best, and she was.”

A $20,000 series consolation was won by Electricity (Bartlett, $2.70) in 1:59.4.

Friday night’s pair of $32,000 Open Handicaps were won by:

• (Filly and Mare Pace); On The Glass, 4 (by Art Major); co-owners Joe DiScala and Cynthia Lynn Massari/trainer Burke/driver Bartlett; (third consecutive win) 1:55/$4.20
• (Trot); Upsidedown, g, 11 (by Super Star Ranger); co-owners (trainer) Josh Green, David Kryway, Cassie Nantais/driver Jim Pantaleano; 2:00/$15.60

The $49,700 final of the Hopeful Series for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings goes Saturday night, March 13.