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

Yonkers, NY — Pole-sitting and pocketed, 14-1 Wildflower (Dan Dube, $31) picked off a drifting, odds-on Celebrity Eventsy (John Campbell) Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $118,574 Hudson Trot for 3-year-old fillies.

Wildflower bests favorite Celebrity Eventsy at the wire to win the Hudson Trot at Yonkers Raceway.

The 1-4 choice had no visible excuse, waltzing around the oval (:28.2, 58.2; 1:27.3) with minimal first-up pressure from Windowshopper (Ake Svanstedt). The people’s preference owned a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane, but tired late. Even with high-line urging from her chauffeur, she bore out more than enough to give her pursuer a shot. Wildflower ducked inside and stuck her tongue out a the wire, winning the Kodak moment in 1:56.1.

Southwind Hope (Andy Miler), who slipped out in front of a gapper down the backside, offered good late foot to grab third while beaten a half-length. Dream Child (Jason Bartlett) and Windowshopper grabbed the final pay envelopes, while Hillosophical (Scott Zeron) was outrun and Dancing in Thehall (Mack MacDonald) broke.

For Wildflower, one of three trained by Svanstedt here (Dancing in Thehall and Windowshopper, all racing separately), the daughter of Muscle Hill is co-owned by her trainer, Douglas Sipple and Mal & Janet Burroughs, it was her third win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $60.50, with the triple returning $119.

“It’s the first time I’ve driven her,” Dube said. “I looked at the program and saw she doesn’t make breaks, and thought she’d be a good horse for this track. I saw John’s filly (Celebrity Eventsy) starting to drift and thought I had a chance. When she made that last lunge, I thought I won it.”

A year ago, it was Purrfect Bags. Saturday night, (Aug. 27), it was Newborn Sassy (Jordan Stratton, $3) wreaking havoc for co-owner and trainer Jo Ann-Looney-King in Yonkers Raceway’s Lady Maud Pace. `Sassy’ won this $109,050 edition for 3-year-old fillies, rolling past Apple Bottom Jeans (Jason Bartlett) late in 1:53.

Mike Lizzi photos

Newborn Sassy passes by Apple Bottom Jeans to take the Lady Maud Pace on Saturday (Aug. 27).

Odds-on Newborn Sassy, leaving from post position three, left into an immediate two-hole behind second-choice Apple Bottom Jeans. The fave went to pull pocket, but ‘ABJ’ was not in a giving mood. She reseated her rival, then put up intervals of :27.4, :56.3 and 1:25.2. Skinny Dipper (Brian Sears) made a move out of third, but backpedaled in a hurry. Apple Bottom Jeans did get some nighttime daylight, opening a couple of lengths entering the final turn.

However, Newborn Sassy closed ranks and angled out, wearing down the leader late and winning by a half-length. Hug a Dragoness (George Brennan) photoed Cheyenne Triengel (Scott Zeron) for third, with Time on My Hands (Dan Dube) settling for the smallest envelope. Skinny Dipper faded to last among the happy half-dozen.

For ‘Sassy,’ a Western Ideal miss also co-owned by CC Racing, it was her fourth win in 13 2016 tries. The exacta paid $5.70, with the triple returning $21.60.

While King won this race for a second consecutive season, Stratton completed his own ‘double,” having guided Kryptos to win the Lismore Pace for this same division in late May.

“I knew we had a bit of a post disadvantage (against Apple Bottom Jeans), so I took a chance at moving again,” Stratton said. “I’m not surprised Jason (Bartlett) wouldn’t let me go, so I just had to wait. She’s a very talented filly, and I knew it pained (regular driver) Timmy (Tetrick) not be get to drive her tonight. I’m just fortunate the connections had confidence in me.”

Saturday’s $45,000 Open Handicaps were won by…

–Pace, Doctor Butch (Brent Holland, $6.70) in 1:50.4;
–Trot, Undercover Strike (Bartlett, $2.50) in 1:54.

Special Saturday props, too, to Kevin McDermott, who earned his 1,500th career training victory after Badix Hanover (Tyler Buter, $8.40) ‘won the bob’ in the $18,000, first-race pace (1:52.3).