YONKERS, NY, Friday, January 29, 2016 – Locally-debuting Tessa Seelster with harness racing driver George Brennan at the controls overcame one eight-hole and seven elders Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $32,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
It turned out to be an outside-assigned, two-speed number, as "Tessa" and Inittowinafortune (Jordan Stratton) both left around a dormant Regil Elektra (Brian Sears). It was Tessa Seelster making the lead well before a :27.3 quarter-mile.
From there, she finished off her rounds :57, 1:24.4, 1:53.2…plus an elongated inquiry regarding a possible cutting-the-cones violation). Inittowinafortune took her shot in the lane, but missed a head, with slight 2-1 favorite Rockn' Ruby N (Dan Dube), Regil Elektra and Dune in Red (Mark MacDonald) settling for the remainder.
For third choice Tessa Seelster, a 4-year-old daughter of Shadow Play co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Jonathan Newman, she's now 3-for-3 this season. The exacta paid $200, with the triple returning $1,392. The former Ontario standout was a six-figure purchase before this season by her new connections.
The Raceway's live season continues Saturday night, with a dozen races and a first post of 7:10 PM.
Frank Drucker