Filly and Mare Open at Yonkers goes to Vorst

YONKERS, NY, Thursday, September 20, 2018-With Yonkers Raceway dark Friday night (Sept. 21st) in preparation for the New York Night of Champions, the leading overnight ladies had their weekly close-up an evening early. Hence, it was a Thursday night (Sept. 20th) $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

That was good news for Vorst (George Brennan, $27.60), who parlayed a perfect trip and a makeshift passing to win in 1:53.

Getting the first lead from assigned post position No. 5, Vorst handed the baton to Mach it a Par (Jason Bartlett) before a :27.3 opening quarter-mile.

After a :56.4 intermission, even-money fave Medusa (Brian Sears), who had left for a seat fourth, was out and moving again. She hooked Mach it a Par in and out of a 1:24.4 three-quarters, the pair pacing in tandem entering the lane.

Vorst, meanwhile, closed ranks from a loose pocket and found room inside in a three-way scrum. She defeated Mach it a Par by a head and Medusa by a neck. Jewel Lehigh A (Scott Zeron) and Sell a Bit N (Austin Siegelman) rounded out the payees.

For fifth choice Vorst, a 5-year-old daughter of Four Starzzz Shark owned and trained by Gilberto Garcia-Herrera, it was her fourth win in 22 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $138.50, the triple returned $241 and the superfecta paid $1,992.

Friday was quashed to allow the paddock to be used for Night of Champions detention. Saturday night's (Sept. 22nd) $1.8 million finales-eight at $225,000 each-again comprise the richest night of racing in the state. Those events go as races 2 through 9, with first post for the dozen-race card at the usual night standard of 6:50 PM.

by Frank Drucker, for Yonkers Raceway