Artimittateslife, Cheyenne Trish score Lady Maud elims

Eager to court the female vote, Yonkers Raceway Friday night hosted eliminations for next Saturday's $381,030 Lady Maud Pace final. Fourteen 3-year-old fillies were daintily divided into a pair of $20,000 elimination events, with the first four finishers in each trial returning Oct. 25.

Artimittateslife left here on a roll, and the lone $30,000 supplemental entrant into this race returned to do more good deeds. The statebred Art Major ma'am, a champ in both Empire and open stakes company, won the second elim--her fifth consecutive victory--in stalking style.

With Stephane Bouchard taking his custonary local seat for customary local trainer Ed Hart, "Artimittates" was alert from post position No. 6. The 8-5 people's choice nestled in behind her pylon rival, Hannah Isabel (Yannick Gingras) while that one led around comfort stations of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:27.1.

Artimittateslife then edged toward the passing the lane, and pass she did, getting to "Hannah" by a half-length in 1:55.2. Stylush Artist (Dave Miller) tried it first-over and lasted for third, with Lismore winner Thong (George Brennan) fourth.

Artimittateslife, co-owned by the Canadian contingent of Bob Young, Paul Gazzola and Brian Barton, has won 11 of her 16 seasonal starts ($550,389). She paid $5.50, leading a $10.60 exacta and $47.20 triple.

Cheyenne Trish, driven by Jim Meittinis for trainer Robbie Siegelman, saved all the ground from post No. 5 in the first elim. Getting away fifth, she was content watching 13-10 second choice Happy Dreamer (Andy Miller) grab the throttle. Happy Dreamer went through unpressured early intervals of :28.1 and :58.1.

Good News Lady (Greg Grismore), the 11-10 favorite, hardly resembled a Jugette winner here. She came first-up, prompting Happy Dreamer to a :27.3 third quarter (1:25.4).

The people's preference was done early stretch, tiring to fifth...and out of the final.

Meanwhile, Happy Dreamer looked to her left and found trouble to her inside. Pole-sitting pocket protector Sand Pleasure (Jason Bartlett) ducked in, with Cheyenne Trish skimming the cones even closer. The latter prevailed by a half-length in 1:54.2. Happy Dreamer held second over Sand Pleasure, with See and Be Seen (Brennan) absconding with this elim's final "final" berth.

For "Trish," a daughter of Artiscape leased by the Cheyenne Gang, she returned $20.60 (fourth choice) for her ninth win in 21 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $84.50, with the triple good for $435.50.

Friday night's pair of $40,000 Open Handicaps--for troters and distaff pacers, respectively--went to Light Headed (Dan Dube, 1:57.4), returning $32.40, and Binions (Grismore, 1:55.2), the favorite paying $5.50. (Yonkers)

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