Darlins Delight takes Yonkers open

Double millionaire Darlins Delight and invader Likeabatoutahell won Yonkers Raceway's soggy $40,000 co-features Friday night.

Not even the combination of a rotten post position and rotten weather could deter 'Darlin' from her appointed rounds in the Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace. It was Darlins Delight's first visit to Yonkers since winning the 2006 Lady Maud and its $291,456 stipend.

With Yannick Gingras in his regularly-assigned seat, Darlins Delight made short work of her seven inside sitting ducklings.

Eschewing an early rest stop behind Percee Angus (Pat Berry), the 1-2 favourite drove to the lead just after a 28-second opening quarter-mile. She then rolled through a :57.4 intermission and 1:26.4 three-quarters, taking a length and three quarters lead into the lane.

Darlins Delight then ran up the score as she ran out the clock, widening to five and a half lengths at the wire in 1:54.3. Percee Angus saved second from an ever-loosening pocket, with Boxstep Hanover (Jason Bartlett), Up Front Lady (Dan Dube) and Twin B Tiara (Greg Grismore) completing the cashers.

For Darlins Delight, a five-year-old statebred daughter of Bettors Delight trained by Jeff Stafford for White Birch Farm, she returned $3.10 for her third win in 14 seasonal starts. Her 25th career victory (earnings now over $2.3 million) led a $16.40 exacta and $84 triactor.

Likeabatoutahell (Stephane Bouchard) made his local debut a winning one, going up and over Yankee Nola (Jim Pantaleano) in the Open 'Cap Trot.

Outdrawing his seven rivals, 'Likeabat' was away third as 'Nola' – the lone lady against seven geldings – led through sub-stations of :28.1 and :58.3.

Likeabatoutahell, sitting third, left the cones and made the lead before the 1:27.4 three-quarters.

The "Bat" – who won Scarborough's $50,000 final of the Joe Ricci Memorial last month – then opened up, taking a three and a half-length lead into the payoff portion. He prevailed by two and three-quarter lengths in 1:57.1. Grain Of Truth (Jeff Gregory), San Remo Kosmos (Grismore), Yankee Nola and favourite No More Gold N (Keith Kash Jr.) divided the minor spoils.

For Likeabatoutahell, a five-year-old S Js Caviar gelding, he paid $10 (co-second choice) for his sixth win in 20 '08 tries (single-season best earnings now $127,260). Trond Smedshammer trains for owner Michael Andrew. The exacta paid $48.40, with the triple worth $326.50.

The 19th edition of the New York Night of Champions goes Saturday night.

(Yonkers)

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