Yonkers Raceway's pair of Friday night $46,000 co-features -- a Filly and Mare Open Pace and a welcome-to-all Open Handicap Trot -- were won by a from way-out Virgin Mary (Eric Goodell, $24.80) and a perfect-trip Super Manning (Mark MacDonald, $39.80).
The distaff derby saw Fast And Feisty (Brian Sears), back at Yonkers for the first time since blowing through the Petticoat Pacing Series, in play early.
She left around Tropical Breeze (Jordan Stratton), making the lead before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile. Darena Hanover (Jason Bartlett), a Matchmaker series regular, left into a three-hole here.
After a :56.3 intermission, millionairess and 2-5 favourite Handsoffmycookie (Dan Dube) marched up from fifth. 'Cookie' engaged the stubborn leader in and out of the 1:25 three-quarters, with Fast And Feisty enough to maintain a length lead turning for home.
Soon thereafter, 16-1 Four Starz Roe (Larry Stalbaum), spying sweetly second-over, went on by the leaders...but a third-up Virgin Mary -- niftily negotiating the eight-hole -- swept by 'em all. Last early and sixth entering the lane, 'Mary' motored home, beating 'Roe' by a half-length in 1:53. Fast And Feisty, Handsoffmycookie and Tropical Breeze completed the cashers.
For third choice Virgin Mary, a fivr-year-old homebred daughter of Village Jolt owned by Howard Taylor and trained by Tom Shay, it was her fourth win in 13 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $198, with the triple returning $702.
The featured trot was shrunk to seven when outside entrant Imperial Count was scratched sick. Traverse Seelster (Goodell) put up early intervals of :28 and :58 before Little Brown Fox (Sears), a millionaire making his small-track debut, took out of fourth.
He disposed of the leader just before a 1:26.1 three-quarters, with Super Manning towed in behind. Those two separated themselves from the gang. Super Manning, with the better trip from post position No.5, was about to earn the bigger cheque.
He widened to win by a length in 1:54.1...easily a life-best, the fastest local mile of the season and matching the track record (Blacktuxwhitesocks) for aged geldings. Third went to Calchips Brute (Stratton), with last week's winner, Monsignor Flan (Brent Holland), and Traverse Seelster rounding out the payees.
For fifth choice Super Manning, a five-year-old homebred Diamond Goal gelding owned by Joe Pennacchio and trained by Brandon Todd, it was his third win in 16 '13 starts. The exacta paid $113.50, the triple returned $406.50 and the superfecta paid $1,451.
Saturday night's program -- the last before a 13-night hiatus -- features the $275,000 Art Rooney Pace and its companion event, the $117,060 Lismore Pace. After Saturday's program, live racing (along with evening simulcasting) returns Friday, June 14. Afternoon simulcasting continues around the NYRA schedule.
(Yonkers Raceway)