YONKERS, NY, Friday, July 21, 2017 – You didn't have to be a Yonkers Raceway "sissy" Friday night (July 21st), but it didn't hurt. HP Sissy (Daniel Dube, $9.90) picked off pace-setting Sell a Bit N (Jordan Stratton) late in the lane, winning the harness racing weekly $55,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
The race became a glorified two-speed number, with Sell a Bit N, from post position No. 2, leaving around the pole-dancing HP Sissy. Regil Elektra (Jason Bartlett) landed in a three-hole through early intervals of :27.1 and :56.1.
Regil Elektra made a second move toward the 1:24 three-quarters, but Sell a Bit N owned a length-and-a-half lead into the lane. Despite getting away rather cheaply, she could not stall the lass directly behind her. "Sissy" was anything but, ducked inside and winning by a half-length in a life-best 1:52.1.
Sell a Bit N easily held second, with Lispatty (George Brennan) third. Regil Elektra and tepid 5-2 choice I Said Diamonds (Matt Kakaley) settled for the smaller envelopes.
For fourth choice HP Sissy, a 4-year-old daughter of Up the Credit owned by Claude Hamel and trained by Rene Allard, it was her seventh win in 14 seasonal starts (2-for-2 since hitting town). The exacta paid $46, with the triple returned $119.50.
Bartlett, who began the night with 6,997 career victories, went 1-for-11 Friday, so the quest for the next milestone continues upstate at Saratoga Saturday night (July 22nd).
YONKERS’ SATURDAY PICK 5 FEATURES $2,100 CARRYOVER
A friendly reminder from Yonkers Raceway that Saturday evening’s (July 22nd) Pick 5 wager starts with a carryover of $2,137.14.
The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager comprising races 7 through 11 during every racing card. It has no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners (as was the case Friday night), the entire pool (minus takeout) moves to the next racing program.
Frank Drucker