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

Yonkers, NY — Tepid choice Safe From Terror (Eric Goodell, $5.80) was safe from her seven rivals Friday night (Feb. 16), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $40,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Mike Lizzi photo

Safe From Terror capitalizes on a slow pace to collect her second win of 2018.

Wanting no part of an early pocket, Safe from Terror—from assigned post position two—took over from pole-given Juxta Cowgirl (Mark MacDonald) in what turned out to a paceless race. Early intervals of :28 and :57.3 gave Safe From Terror the hammer, and she not above using it.

Jewel Lehigh A tried it first-up from third, offering a mild bid in and out of a 1:26.1 three-quarters. Motu Moonbeam N (George Brennan) was behind that one, not getting close to the leader, either.

Safe from Terror, with a 1-1/2 lead into the lane, never saw a serious threat. She won by a length in 1:55.2. Juxta Cowgirl did grab second as the 34-1 rank outsider, with a ground-saving All About Madi (Dan Dube), Jewel Lehigh A and Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton) settling for the balance.

For Safe from Terror, a 6-year-old daughter of Western Terror owned by Big Bad DT Racing and trained by Rob Harmon, it was her second win in five seasonal starts. The exacta paid $98.50, the triple returned $898 and the superfecta paid $4,314.