Turnthefrownaround improved to two-for-two in this year's M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series for fillies and mares at Yonkers Raceway with a 1:56.4 victory in Tuesday night's (March 9) last of three splits. The other divisional winners were Paiges Girl and Pettycoat Business.
Driven by George Brennan, Turnthefrownaround worked out a second-over trip behind Break The Deal, and was sent three-wide on the last turn. Turnthefrownaround rallied steadily after being fed clear racetrack, and she got up in the lane to win by half a length. Avaya Hanover, a 27-1 shot, landed a pocket trip from post 7 and turned it into a runner-up finish, and Pray The Rosary, who led through fractions of :27.3, :57.4, and 1:26.1, wound up third.
The winner is a four-year-old daughter of Roll With Joe and is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and Phil Collura. Turnthefrownaround scored her sixth victory in her 31st trip behind the gate, and she has now banked $137,160. Turnthefrownaround returned $3.10 to win as the 1-2 favourite and headed an exacta that paid $108.50, and a trifecta that kicked back $302.
Brennan also scored with 3-5 choice Pettycoat Business in the second flight. Positioned fourth at the :28.2 opening quarter and the :57.3 half, Brennan sent Pettycoat Business first over just beyond the latter marker. She hustled quickly into second on the outside, but leader Sound Idea proved a stubborn foe. Pettycoat Business and Sound Idea dueled to the 1:25.4 three-quarters, around the final turn, and into the lane. Pettycoat Business finally got the measure of Sound Idea for good through the drive as the favourite scored by half a length in 1:54.3. Sound Idea was a game second, and Dragon Roll took third from the pocket.
A four-year-old Art Major mare, Pettycoat Business is trained by Scott DiDomenico for co-owner/breeder Michael Robinson and his ownership partners Robert Mondillo, R.B.H. Ventures Inc., and Gilbilly Stable. Pettycoat Business now has a record of 4-5-4 from 18 tries, and she has earned $138,473. Pettycoat Business, who paid $3.20 to win, led a $5.60 exacta and an $8.70 trifecta.
Paiges Girl, the 5-2 second choice, won Tuesday night's opening section after leading from start to finish. She darted to the point from post 4, posted splits of :28.3, :57.4, and 1:25.3, and held sway in a :28.4 final kicker to prevail by a head in 1:54.2. Rable rallied three wide in the lane after sitting third and was second, and Somebeachsomefra checked in third after stalking the winner from the two-hole.
Lance Hudson trains Paiges Girl, a four-year-old by Captaintreacherous, for owner William Hartt. Paiges Girl is now a seven-time winner from 18 lifetime efforts, and she has pocketed $56,941. Paiges Girl returned $7.20 to win and topped a $14.00 exacta and a $26.20 trifecta.
The M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series has one more preliminary round next Tuesday (March 16) before the final on March 23.
Stakes action continues on Wednesday night's (March 10) 10-race program at Yonkers with the second leg of the M Life Rewards Gents Pacing Series. Three splits, carded as Race 3, 5 and 7, will take place. First post is at 7:15 p.m. (EST).
(Yonkers Raceway)