by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway offers up its two richest races of the season to date next week, wrapping up the Petticoat and Sagamore Hill pacing series, respectively.
Monday night (March 26), with chivalry dictating the ladies go first, it’s the $62,000 finale (seventh race) of the Petticoat. The series, for 3- and 4-year-old lasses with limited (non-winners of four races and/or $40,000 through last Dec. 1) limelight, has seen some standouts in the three preliminary legs.
Caviart Cherie (Jordan Stratton, post eight), JK Jazzitup (Mark MacDonald, post two), Dali Delight (Dan Dube, post four) and Diamondtoothgertie (George Brennan, post five) each won twice in the prelims, with JK Jazzitup and Dali Delight racing as a Gilberto Garcia-Herrera common-owner/trainer entry.
Gotthisone Hanover (Yannick Gingras, post one), Absolutely Best (Jason Battlett, post three) D G’s Elsa (Eric Goodell, post six) and Lusty Delight (Greg Merton, post seven) round out the field for the finale. All entrants are 4-year-olds.
Tuesday night (March 27t, the Raceway’s annual Teddy Roosevelt testimonial, the Sagamore Hill, wraps with a final worth $63,400. It’s the boys’ version of the Petticoat, again for 3- and 4-year-olds of restricted resumes through last Dec. 1.
Sometimesawinner (Brennan, post three) won both of his series starts before getting last week off, while Mach N Cheese (Stratton, post seven) sandwiched a couple of wins around a second-place effort. These are the only sophomores in the finale lineup.
Obscene Blue Chip (Bartlett, post four) and Poinstomewherelse (Jeff Gregory, post five) were also two-time prelim winners.
Abbeydorney (Bartlett also listed, post one), Zone Blitz (Jim Marohn Jr., post two), Fullback (driver TBA, post six) and Windsun Gotham (Brennan also listed, post eight) complete the field (note changes for Tuesday shall be made Friday, March 23).
“The draw for both races obviously hurts,” Stratton said. “The Caviart Cherie mare is a drive I picked up after Matt (Kakaley) went down. He had won a lot (four) in a row with her. I was second last week, and was second with her the previous time I drove her (late January). She has the talent. We have to see how the race unfolds.
“I drove Mach N Cheese in his last two starts. The first one, he had some trouble in the final turn. Last week, he went first-up and just drew off…very sharp.”
A pair of $30,000 series consolations are included in the Monday and Tuesday undercards, going as each evening’s third race.