$40,000 Open goes to New Zealand-bred

New Zealand-bred Delitfulcatherin N (Bettor’s Delight) avenged her prior three losses to race favorite Lit De Rose by wiring the harness racing field Friday (Jan. 20) in the $40,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway.

Starting from post two in the 7th race feature for driver Jordan Stratton, Delitfulcatherin N went right to the early lead with Uptown Hanover (Jason Bartlett) getting the two-hole pocket trip to the first quarter in :28 over the fast track.

Parked first-over in fourth place at the quarter was Lucky Artist A (Braxton Boyd) who continued to advance on the outside as Delitfulcatherin N led the field to the half mile in :57.2. Meanwhile, race favorite Lit De Rose (Pat Lachance) was in last place.

Down the backstretch, Delitfulcatherin N could hear the hoofbeats of Lucky Artist A on the outside as they passed the three-quarters in 1:25 with Jody (George Brennan) second over and in the hunt.

Still leading by the top of the stretch after fending off Lucky Artist A, Delitfulcatherin N then had to hold off a determined pocket-sitting Uptown Hanover. Delitfulcatherin and Stratton were game to the wire, winning by a half a length in 1:53.2 over Uptown Hanover with Violets Rainbow (Matt Kakaley) closing for third place. Lit De Rose showed a :27.3 last quarter, fastest of the field, but finished fifth.

DELITFULCATHERIN N REPLAY

It was the first start of the new year for Delitfulcatherin N. The seven-year-old mare is trained by Jeff Gilles for Mark Ford and paid $6.70 to win.

Last season Delitfulcatherin N was a ten-time winner and since coming to the USA in 2021 has 18 wins in 43 starts.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink