Yonkers: M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series begins

The M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series kicked off on Tuesday night (March 2) at Yonkers Raceway with a trio of $15,000 divisions that were won by Flirty Forty, Dragon Roll, and Turnthefrownaround.

Flirty Forty (Matt Kakaley), sent off at 21-1 in the first split, sat third while 1-9 favorite Pettycoat Business (George Brennan) led through fractions of 28 1/5, 57 1/5, and 1:25 3/5. Sound Idea (Scott Zeron) stalked Pettycoat Business from the pocket and then tipped out two-wide before they turned into the lane, with Flirty Forty tracking Sound Idea's bid before going three-wide in the stretch. It was a thrilling battle to the wire, but in the end Flirty Forty had the best kick, getting up to win by a head in 1:55 1/5. Sound Idea was second, and Pettycoat Business had to settle for third.

Mark Ford trains Flirty Forty, a 4-year-old daughter of American Ideal, for owner Bay Pond Racing Stable. This was her fourth career win, and she has now earned $42,452. Flirty Forty paid $45.40 to win, the 2-1 exacta returned $171.00, and the trifecta kicked back $406.00.

4-5 favorite Dragon Roll (Jason Bartlett) dashed to the lead from post five and put up stations of 28 2/5, 58 3/5, and 1:27 1/5 in the next section. Despite the well-rated tempo, Dragon Roll had to dig in determinedly in the last quarter, initially to fend off a first-over try from Pray The Rosary (Brent Holland), and then to deal with a big close from Break The Deal (Zeron) through the stretch. Although she made the chalk players and her connections sweat it out, the wire came up in time for Dragon Roll to tally over Break The Deal by a nose in a 1:57 1/5 mile. Pray The Rosary held third.

Dragon Roll is a 4-year-old Roll With Joe mare owned and trained by Ricky Bucci. Dragon Roll now sports a record of 4-4-8 from 21 career tries, and she has pocketed $149,073. Dragon Roll returned $3.70 to win. The 5-6 exacta paid $29.00 and the trifecta of 5-6-8 was worth $357.50.

The last flight saw Somebeachsomefra (Zeron) pop out of the pocket to take over command from Special Achiever (Bartlett) on the way to the 28 3/5 opening quarter. Somebeachsomefra would continue to front the field to the half in 58 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:26 3/5, with even-money choice Turnthefrownaround (Brennan) vacating the cones out of third early on the last turn. Somebeachsomefra still had a clear advantage turning for home and responded when Zeron called on her in the lane, but Turnthefrownaround wore her down in deep stretch to prevail by a neck in 1:56. There was a dead-heat for third between Special Achiever and Off The Press (Jordan Stratton).

The winner is another 4-year-old by Roll With Joe and is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and Phil Collura. Turnthefrownaround scored her fifth victory in her 30th trip behind the gate, and she has now banked $129,660. Turnthefrownaround returned $4.30 to win. The exacta paid $11.40, and the two trifectas kicked back $21.60 (Special Achiever third) and $39.40 (Off The Press third).

The M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series has additional preliminary legs on Tuesday, March 9 and Tuesday, March 16, and the final is slated for March 23.

The boys take their turn in the M Life Rewards Gents Pacing Series on Wednesday night's (March 3) 10-race card at Yonkers, competing in four divisions of their first round.

--press release (Yonkers Raceway Media)--