Lit De Rose in full bloom Thursday

Lit De Rose, driven by harness racing trainer Pat Lachance, front-stepped her way to a 1:54.2 victory in Thursday night’s (March 10) $39,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Yonkers Raceway, the final prep over the oval before the 2022 edition of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series gets underway next Friday (March 18).

Starting from the pole position, Lit De Rose went straight to the front as the field lined up in post position order.

Lit De Rose had command over her four rivals through fractions of 27.3, 57.1, and 1:26, and she responded when called on by Lachance in the lane, defeating pocket-sitter Rockn Philly (Scott Zeron) by three-quarters of a length. Best Head West (Matt Kakaley) was third after a first-over attempt out of fourth in the last three-eighths of the mile.

A 7-year-old daughter of Leader Bayama, Lit De Rose is owned and was bred by Guy Corbeil. This was her 29th win from 82 career starts, and she has now earned $434,277. Sent off at 2-1, she paid $6.90 to win and was atop a $36.80 exacta and a $79.00 trifecta.

On Friday night’s (March 11) program at Yonkers, there will be a $4,891.87 carryover and a $15,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick 5. The guarantee in the Pick 5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick 5, courtesy of TrackMaster, will be available here www.trackmaster.com/usta. The Pick 5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20 percent.

Friday night’s 11-race card gets underway at 6:55 p.m. and features a $39,000 Open Trot.