First-over no problem for Queen Of All

Queen Of All (Swan For All) and harness racing driver Austin Siegelman had no trouble grinding it out first-over in capturing the $39,000 Fillies and Mares Open Trot Thursday (Aug. 25) at Yonkers Raceway.

The 8^th race feature started off with I Da Princess (George Brennan) going right to the early lead with race favorite Weslynn Quest (Jason Bartlett) sitting the pocket trip to the opening quarter mile in :27.3.

Still leading at the half in :56.3, I Da Princess could begin to hear the hoof steps of Queen Of All starting up first-over with Hey Livvy (Jordan Stratton) following the second-over cover.

By the three-quarters in 1:25, I Da Princess was still in command with Queen Of All continuing to gain on the race leader.

Coming down the stretch, Queen Of All put away I Da Princess and then held off Hey Livvy to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.1. What Should I Goo (Tyler Buter) was third.

QUEEN OF ALL REPLAY

It was the second straight win and eighth of the year for Queen Of All. She is trained by Lance Hudson and owned by William Hartt of Maine. She paid $8.70 to win.

Two $10,000 divisions in the NAADA fall trotting series went to post tonight at Yonkers Raceway and when the judges posted the winners, Nicole Dicostanzo and Alan Schwartz each were victorious; Dicostanzo with Jekyll N Hyde (Whom Shall I Fear) in 1:59.3 and Schwartz in 1:58.

In her split Dicostanzo went to the front from the three hole and led her competition by the quarter in :30.1.

Alone on the front end with her trotter the diminutive miss got by the half in 1:01.2 with Crews Hilltopper (Joe Lee) tight on her back. Up the backside Dicostanzo asked her charge for more and Jekyll N Hyde sped to a 29-second third quarter and then added a :29.1 final panel for a head victory over Lee’s trotter. Third place went to Fiji with Dave Offenberg at the controls.

The winner, a 5-year-old gelding is owned by Christie Decotis and trained by Ms Dicostanzo.

In the other NAADA trot Alan Schwartz zipped to the lead from the six-hole with Raceace (Yankee Glide) and the veteran 6-year -old trotter was never in trouble as he trotted by the quarter in :28.3. He then had two lengths on runner-up Keystone Blade (Joe Pennacchio) as they trotted up the backside and at the three quarters Raceace was still solidly in command.

When they headed for paydirt it was clear that Raceace was not to be denied and he cruised home a length winner in 1:58. Keystone Blade finished second a head better than third place finisher Brilliant Bob (Scott Keppler)

Schwartz owns and trains Raceace who with this victory ups his seasonal bankroll to over $52,000.

For complete NAADA race results, click here.

For complete pari-mutuel race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf for Harnesslink and John Manzi for NAADA