Yonkers: Familiar faces prevail in M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series action

Three $15,000 divisions of the third and final preliminary round of the M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series for fillies and mares were the featured races on Tuesday night's (March 16) card at Yonkers Raceway. Pettycoat Business, Paige's Girl, and Turnthefrownaround were victorious, with the first two picking up their second wins in the series, and Turnthefrownaround improving to three-for-three.

Pettycoat Business (George Brennan), sent off at 1-9, took over the lead going to the 28 second opening quarter in the first flight, then proceeded to cruise through a 56 4/5 half and a 1:24 4/5 three-quarters on her way to a four length tally in 1:54 1/5. Dragon Roll (Jason Bartlett) finished second from the pocket, with Flirty Forty (Matt Kakaley) third.

A 4-year-old Art Major mare, Pettycoat Business is trained by Scott Di Domenico 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 5-5-4 from 19 tries, and she has earned $145,973. Pettycoat Business, who paid $2.10 to win, led a $3.20 exacta and a $5.30 trifecta.

Similar tactics worked for Paige's Girl in the next section, as she posted fractions of 29, 57 3/5, and 1:26 3/5 on her way to a 1 3/4 length victory in a final time of 1:55 4/5. P L Nelly (Daniel Dube) was second at 17-1, and Avaya Hanover (Joe Bongiorno) finished third at odds of 31-1.

Lance Hudson trains Paige's Girl, a 4-year-old by Captaintreacherous, for owner William Hartt. Paige's Girl is now an eight-time winner from 19 lifetime efforts, and she has pocketed $64,441. Paige's Girl returned $6.40 to win as the 2-1 second choice and topped a $70.50 exacta and a $341.50 trifecta.

Brennan also guided Turnthefrownaround to a 1:55 2/5 triumph in the last split. Turnthefrownaround pulled out of the pocket on the way to the 28 2/5 opening quarter and cleared Ready Set Rock (Austin Siegelman) past that marker to take over command. Turnthefrownaround never really had an anxious moment from there as she sailed through a 57 2/5 half and a 1:26 4/5 three-quarters before sealing the deal with a 28 3/5 final panel. She defeated Ready Set Rock by 2 1/4 lengths, with Break The Deal (Zeron) third.

The winner is a 4-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 seventh victory in her 32nd trip behind the gate, and she has now banked $144,660. Turnthefrownaround paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favorite and headed an exacta that paid $11.20, and a trifecta that kicked back $35.40.

The M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series wraps up next Tuesday night (March 23) with the $57,800 final and $25,000 consolation. Series standings are available on Yonkers Raceway's website.

In other news from Tuesday night's card, 14-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding Watkins won the $9,500 third race trot from post eight in 1:58 4/5, vaulting past the $1 million mark in lifetime earnings. Watkins is trained and owned by Michael Annunziata, and Jordan Stratton was in the bike.

Stakes racing continues at Yonkers on Wednesday (March 17) with the last leg of the M Life Rewards Gents Pacing Series for colts and geldings. Then, on Friday (March 19), pacing mares clash in three $35,000 divisions of the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series. Alexa Skye, Blue Ivy, and Machnhope, who were victorious in the first leg of that event, have drawn in separate races again this time.

The fields for Monday's (March 22) second leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series have also been set, with 30 entrants divided into four $40,000 races. First round winners Leonidas A (post one, Austin Siegelman/Sheena McElhiney) and San Domino A (post two, Todd McCarthy/Nancy Takter) lock horns in the third split, and two of the other leg one victors, Hesa Kingslayer N (post two, Jim Marohn Jr./Michael Deters) and Let It Ride N (Dexter Dunn/Richard "Nifty" Norman), head up Monday's last MGM Borgata tilt. First race post time for all of that upcoming action is 7:15 p.m.

--press release (Yonkers Raceway Media)--