No Mas Drama takes on seven in Yonkers Invitational

No Mas Drama (Muscles Yankee) is the mare to beat starting from the rail in the $35,000 Mares Invitational Trot in harness racing action at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday (April 11th).

The seven-year-old Nicole Dicostanzo pupil comes off a strong second a week ago where she simply couldn’t repel the perfectly pocketed even money favorite Queen Of All down the stretch. Driver Joe Bongiorno said No Mas Drama’s form has rounded into shape and agreed she is the one to take down.

“I had the other best horse on my back last week, and she just outkicked my mare down the lane,” he said. “She threw in a few clunkers, but she feels like she is getting sharp again. I believe she will be very tough tonight.”

With Queen Of All not in to go in this week’s edition of the mares Invite, No Mas Drama will almost surely use her potent gate speed to take control of the race at the start and play come and catch me. Bongiorno confirmed that is the strategy that will likely play out.

“I will have to see how it feels when the wings of the gate fold, but I feel she will most likely be back on the point again tonight,” he said. The 21-time winning mare looks to add to her earnings of more than $705,000. She is the 2 to 1 morning line favorite.

Perfect Vixen, the 5 to 2 second choice in the morning line, shoots for a second straight win at this level after wiring the field on March 28th, finishing one length in front of a closing Helpoftheseason. That was the Jared Bako pupil’s second attempt at the mares Invite after finishing second to Tipsy Moni on March 14th. Tipsy Moni would come out of that race to beat makes in the Invitational Trot the following week.

Morning line third choice Helpoftheseason (Helpisontheway) (3 t0 1) figures to be much closer to the front this week, getting post relief coming off a seventh-place finish in her most recent start that came at this level on March 28th. She finished a distant second last time No Mas Drama won an mares Invite on March 7th, but she had post six that night and closed from well back. Regular driver Jason Bartlett will likely fire the Per Engblom trainee off the gate from post three looking to keep No Mas Drama in his sights.

Another mare that figures to be in the firing line into the first turn is Lady Jeter (Muscles Yankee) who sat the pocket on March 28th and finished second, ahead of both No Mas Drama and Helpoftheseason.

Teamster Brent Holland typically blasts with the mare when she draws inside and moving from post eight to post two is the post relief that should help facilitate that aggressive strategy. The Ricky Bucci trainee is 20 to 1 in the morning line, probably based on last week’s eighth-place finish which is not a true indicator of her ability.

Hot Flash Kimmy makes her second Yonkers start since shipping in from The Meadows. She made an excellent recovery to grab fourth after breaking at the start on March 28th, but she will have her work cut out starting from the widest post eight. The six-time winner is sent out by Mickey Burke the 6 to 1 morning line choice gets Yannick Gingras in the sulky.

Here is the field for the Mares Invitational Trot which is scheduled to go at 8:20 p.m. as race 5 on the 12-race card.

1. No Mas Drama – Joe Bongiorno – 2/1

2. Lady Jeter – Brent Holland – 20/1

3. Helpoftheseason – Jason Bartlett – 3/1

4. Perfect Vixen – Matt Kakaley – 5/1

5. The Ballykeel Deal – George Brennan – 20/1

6. P L Notsonice – Scott Zeron – 10/1

7. Ima Diamond Babe – Braxten Boyd – 12/1

8. Hot Flash Kimmy – Yannick Gingras – 6/1

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink