Favorite Sir Jillian Z Tam (Pat Lachance) won the draw Wednesday morning and the race Monday night, annexing Yonkers Raceway's $66,400 final of the Petticoat Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-old fillies and mares in 1:56.3.
"Jillian" stung Look Annie Hall (George Brennan) a bit, then let her go before a 28-second opening quarter-mile."Annie" then rated a :59.1 intermission before Southwind Trini (Cat Manzi) moved from fourth.
She prompted the action to a :28.3 third quarter (1:27.4), with Vy Hanover (Jordan Stratton) slightly gapping from second-over.
Look Annie Hall owned a length advantage entering the lane, but was about to give up the ghost. Sir Jillian Z Tam ducked inside, getting the best of a stubborn Southwind Trini by a half-length. Vy Hanover was third, with Not Thinking (Dan Dube) and Look Annie Hall settling for the remainder.
For Sir Jillian Z Tam, a 4-year-old daughter of Bettor's Delight co-owned by (trainer) Lachance, Z Tam Stables and Ira Rosenblum, she returned $4.20 for her fifth win in nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $11.60 (two wagering choices), with the triple returning $47.
"She's needed the trip," Lachance said of the lass who won twice in prelim competition. "I let the other mare (Look Annie Hall) go because I'd thought she'd be able to carry me, and it worked out. It's back to the overnights for her now."
Lachance was congratulated by New York State Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Yonkers/Mt. Vernon), chairman of the Assembly's Racing and Wagering Committee. The two have a history, with Lachance ably assisting Pretlow when the latter won a Legislators' Challenge event here.
"We wound up in the winner's circle together again," Pretlow said.
The Raceway's richest event of the season to date--the $70,400 final of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-old colts and geldings--goes Tuesday night.
Yonkers' five-night-per-week (Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday) live schedule continues. First post for all programs remains at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule (note that NYRA is dark Easter Sunday). (Yonkers)