Darlins Delight wins at Yonkers

May 30, 2009

Darlin's Delight and her almost $3 million career bankroll made a rare Yonkers Raceway appearance Friday night, which was good news for her retirement fund and bad news for her rivals as she won in 1:54.1.

With Yannick Gingras taking his customary seat for trainer Jeff Stafford, "Darlin"--here for her first visit since last September--was ordered to the outside for the co-featured, $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

No eight-hole can hold her. Sent off at 3-5, Darlin's Delight methodically waited for the seat-fillers to take their places. It was nearly a half-mile before she found the front as Omen Hanover (Eric Abbatiello), then Double Dream N (Brent Holland) alternated through a :27.4 opening quarter-mile.

The favored femme grabbed the gauntlet before a :56.2 intermission and the rest were going for second money. Darlin's Delight found a 1:25.2 three-quarters, then had a couple of lengths to play with turning for home. She won by that margin in 1:54.1, defeating JK Pure Pearl (Stephane Bouchard), with Ubetterthink Think (Jordan Stratton) third. Double Dream N and Ramona Disomma (Greg Grismore) grabbed the small change.

For Darlin's Delight, a 6-year-old daughter of Bettor's Delight owned by White Birch Farm, she paid $3.20 for her fourth win in eight '09 tries (31-for-67 lifetime). The victress led a $14.40 exacta and $85.50 triple.

The weekly featured trot saw Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory) go up and over an invading leader Sergeant York (Gingras) down the backside the second time, then run up the score.

Beach Nut Brand, the 9-10 favorite from his assigned post No. 4, moved first-up from fourth after the interloper put up intrepid intervals of :27.4 and :57.4. Beach Nut Brand gained the advantage before a 1:26.1 three-quarters, moving from 4 1/2 lengths entering the lane to 4 3/4 lengths at the wire.

The 1:55.3 effort matched Chick N Tell's performance of a week ago as the fastest local trotting mile of the season. Chick N Tell (Bouchard) rallied for second here, with Sauce Two K (Cat Manzi), Armbro Barrister (Steve Smith) and Galleon's Assassin (Stratton) completing the cashers.

For Beach Nut Brand, a 7-year-old Branded gelding trained by Mark Harder for co-owners Stable 45 & Scott Kurzrok, he returned $3.90 for his fourth win in 17 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $20.80, with the triple returning $105.50.

Yonkers is taking an early-June live racing break, as previously scheduled and approved by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board. After the Saturday night program, Yonkers does not race again until Saturday night, June 6, featuring eliminations for both the Art Rooney and Lismore Paces. (Yonkers)

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