A picture for Percee

Percee Angus has to be a bit vain, because she just loves to get  her picture taken, and not even the eight hole could stop her from saying "cheese" Friday night at Yonkers Raceway, where she  two-moved her way to victory in the co-featured $35,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

With Greg Grismore again driving for trainer Julius Czermann Jr.,  15-1 "Percee" settled in fourth early as Miss Galvinator A (Pat Berry) stuffed last week's winner--and this week's 9-10 favorite--Ball Gown A (Tony Morgan) in behind during a contentious :27.1 opening quarter mile.

Longshot Vanite Semalu (Jim Meittinis) had no designs about pulling from third, so Percee Angus vacated  the cones coming to a :56.3 half-mile. "Percee" put the heat on Miss Galvinator A coming toward the 1:25 three-quarters, and it became a match  race from that juncture.

Ball Gown A was weakening in the pocket, while 31-1 shot Vivacious Raider (Jim Marohn) was badly gapping cover. Percee Angus forged to the lead in and out of the final turn, then widened out to prevail by four lengths in a snappy--and season's-best--1:53.

Miss Galvinator A fought the good fight in an improved effort and held second, with Ball Gown A, Sentbytheangels (Tim Tetrick) and Best Chance Hanna (Pat Lachance) also grabbing some gusto.  

Percee Angus, 5-year-old daughter of Blissfull Hall co-owned by Fred and Anita Fialkow, returned $32.20  for her ninth victory in 18 '07 starts (30-for-56 over past two seasons). The exacta paid $145.50, the triple returned  $227 while the superfecta was a tax-job $3,236.

The co-featured $35,000 Open 'Cap Trot wound up being a two-speed number as second-choice Designable and Tetrick held off Nahcotta Jude (Marohn) by a measured half-length in 1:57.2. That effort, buoyed by fractions of :28.4,  :59.2 and 1:28.4, was just two-fifths of Sweet Michelle's track record for "old ladies," which has stood since 1993.

Tasty Max (Mike Forte) came first-up and held the bottom of the ticket, with Travelin Preacher (Stephane Bouchard) and invading Valley Sport (Morgan) completing the cashers. Valley Sport, the tepid 2-1 choice from outside his seven rivals, was never a factor.

Designable, an 8-year-old daughter of Earl owned by Marcos Ameralis and trained Steve Elliott, returned $8 for her second win in 13 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $41, while the triple returned $177.

Bridgejumpers took the plunge in the 10th-race finale as 3-10 Kole's Return (Jack Baggitt Jr.), fresh off her aged mare track record (1:52.4) of a week ago, jumped before the start here. What resulted were show prices of $44, $52.50 and $21. Yet another chapter for the open-ended book entitled, "That's Why They Race the Race." (Yonkers) 

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