Pancleefandarpels nears a million in earnings
Yonkers, NY --- Pancleefandarpels (Jim Pantaleano), knocking on the million-dollar door, edged closer on Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $42,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pace.
Assigned the penultimate post position, No. 7, Pancleefandarpels was in play early. She drove past Breakheart Pass (Jason Bartlett0, grabbing the lead just after a :27.2 opening quarter-mile. From there it was a :55.4 half and 1:24.3 three-quarters, with the 13-10 favorite, Bling (George Brennan), having moved from fifth, prompting first-over.
Pancleefandarpels dispatched the public choice, taking a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane. She found the mile marker in 1:52.4 and the 1-1/16 miles in 2:00. Lightning Treasure (Daniel Dube) skimmed the cones for second -- beaten that same 1-1/2 lengths -- with Breakheart Pass, Bling and Summer Snow (Cat Manzi) sifting through the remainder.
Pancleefandarpels, a 7-year-old homebred daughter of Noble Ability owned by Peter Pan Stables and trained by Bob McIntosh, returned $18.20 as the fourth choice for her seventh win in 30 season’s starts. The Exacta paid $91.50, the Triple returned $733.00 and the winner’s career cash is now approaching $990,000.
Friday night's co-featured $42,000 Open Handicap trot saw the pole starter, Summertime Yankee (Brent Holland), close deep in the passing to beat the boys.
Sarkozy (Eric Goodell) and Baby Boy Grin (Larry Stalbaum) took turns on the lead, with the latter gaining the advantage after a :27.3 opening quarter. A :57.2 half led to Wind Surfer (Jason Bartlett) trying it first-up, with the 7-10 choice, Calchips Brute (George Brennan), catching that one, before going wide at a 1:26.1 three-quarters.
All the while, Baby Boy Grin owned a 1-1/4 length lead in and out of the final turn. He hit the mile in 1:56.1, with company coming all around. Taking the short way was Summertime Yankee, who found room deep inside to win by a neck in an added-distance 2:03.3.
Baby Boy Grin held second, with Calchips Brute, Sarkozy and KLM Express (Jim Marshall III) coming away with the minor spoils. The five payees were separated by just three-quarter lengths.
Summertime Yankee, a 7-year-old daughter of S J's Photo owned and trained by Tyler Raymer, returned $17.40 as fourth choice for her sixth win in 26 '11 tries. The Exacta paid $133.00, the Triple paid $540.00 and the Superfecta returned $1,744.00.
The Meadows
Mud Pie Hanover overcame post nine by vaulting to the front and clicking-off a facile, front-end victory in Friday’s $22,500 Fillies Mares Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap pace at The Meadows. Although Eric Ledford gunned Mud Pie Hanover to the lead in a swift :26.4, the demanding opening panel did not slow her down, as the 5-year-old daughter of Allamerican Native--Mud Hen scored her second-straight comfortable win in The Meadows’ top distaff pace. She prevailed in 1:52.4, two lengths better than the pocket-sitting Jans Luck, with Autumn Magic third. Jason Robinson trains Mud Pie Hanover, who soared over $200,000 in career earnings for Robert Main. Dave Palone drove three winners on the 13-race program. Live racing at The Meadows will resume on Saturday with a special make-up card beginning at 6:55 p.m., eastern.
Saratoga
With no Open trot as the Friday feature this week at Saratoga Casino and Raceway, there were two divisions of the $10,000 per conditioned claimer for trotters which served as co-features on a chilly night at the Spa. Four Starz Credit (Credit Winner) pulled off the mild upset to win at 7-1 with Chris Long sitting behind. The Ray Allen-trained trotter came out of third heading to the three-quarter pole before edging the favored A Megabuck (Mark Beckwith) in the stretch while stopping the timer in 1:57.3. The other co-feature saw another long shot trotter prevail as Pay The Winner (John Stark, Jr.) scored in the final strides in 1:59, at odds of 8-1. Competing in the New York Sire Stakes for the majority of his season, Pay The Winner (Credit Winner) beat the older horses on Friday for his fourth victory of the campaign. The 3-year-old is trained by Sam Schillaci. Live racing will continue at Saratoga on Saturday night with post time set for 7:05 p.m., eastern.