Yonkers: The Last Martini, Mrs Cheese deliver in Park MGM Paces

The Last Martini and Mrs Cheese picked up Grand Circuit victories in two Grade 3 $50,000 Park MGM Pace divisions for 3-year-old fillies on Friday night (June 27) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Sent off at 1-9 in the opening flight, The Last Martini (Doug McNair) watched from third as Fashion Terror (Scott Zeron) cut fractions of 28 4/5 and 58 for the opening-half, then got going first-over before the field hit the third turn. Fashion Terror was able to hold off The Last Martini to three-quarters in 1:26 and continued to battle with her around the last turn, but The Last Martini finally put the stubborn pace-setter away in the lane.

However, The Last Martini's work wasn't done as Dressed To Kill (Yannick Gingras) tracked her from second-over and had pace in the lane after tipping out. However, The Last Martini was able to hold sway to the wire, defeating Dressed To Kill by a nose in a 1:54 2/5 mile. Fashion Terror was a good third, followed by Family Jewel (Jason Bartlett) and Intricacy (George Brennan).

Jared Bako trains the Crawford Farms-bred daughter of Huntsville for owner Glenview Livestock Ltd. The Last Martini has a summary of 7-5-2 from 15 starts, has put away $630,539 and paid $2.10 while she keyed a $7.90 exacta and a $15.00 trifecta.

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In the other section Mrs Cheese (Matt Kakaley) worked her way to the point from the outside post five before the 27 4/5 quarter and maintained command to the half in 57 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:25 3/5. Pocket-sitter Fansville (Joe Bongiorno) vacated the pylons prior to three-quarters, and she was tracked by favored Please Be You (Zeron).

Mrs Cheese was up to the challenge when confronted by Fansville, though, as she fought her off all the way around the final bend and to the finish line, tallying by a neck in 1:54 2/5. Please Be You got third, followed by Martini Star (Bartlett) and Huntingfortreasure (Dan Dube).

An American Ideal filly, Mrs Cheese is trained by Scott Di Domenico for owner Triple D Stables. Bred by Winbak Farm, Mrs Cheese has a pair of wins and two seconds from seven trips behind the gate, has pocketed $48,615 and returned $10.00 to win as a 4-1 offering. She was atop a $32.20 exacta and a $45.40 trifecta.

--press release (Yonkers)--