Nidya A edges Hannah Isabel at Yonkers

Nidya A (Cat Manzi) snapped pacesetting Hannah Isabel (Patric Lachance) on the money Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $32,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

 

Hannah Isabel set sail through fractions of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:26. Style Semalu (Stephane Bouchard) was pocket-protected, while returning Eagle See (Peter Wrenn) was pacing in place first-up as the 9-5 choice. Nidya A, leaving from post position five, was done no favors by the favorite. She was second-over, going wide entering the lane.

 

Hannah Isabel had a 1 1/4-length advantage in and out of the final turn, with Nidya A 3 1/2 lengths away. She timed it just right, closing from fifth to prevail by a head in 1:55.2. Leanback Coco (Jordan Stratton) grabbed the bottom of the ticket, with Style Semalu and invading Tracy's Song (Greg Grismore) grabbing the small change.

 

Nidya A, a 9-year-old Down Under Albert Albert miss trained by Peter Tritton for co-owners Paul McDougall and WJ McDougall Racing, returned $21.40 (sixth choice) for her first win in two '09 tries. The exacta paid $129.50, with the triple returning $900.

 

The weekly $32,000 trotting feature saw Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory) grind his way to glory, getting by Ripped (Grismore) late in 1:57.

 

The latter was looped leaving by 9-10 fave American Lane (Manzi), then grabbed the lead after the :28.1 opening quarter-mile. Ripped found a soft :59 intermission, before Beach Nut Brand took up the chase. Leaving from post six, Beach Nut Brand had settled in fifth. He then ranged up going to the 1:27.4 three-quarters, with Green Day (Lachance) slightly gapped.

 

Ripped maintained a tenuous lead turning for home, but Beach Nut Brand had him. The challenger went on by, widening to a 1 1/2-length margin at the wire. Ripped saved second, with Green Day, Force Nine (Bouchard) and a fading American Lane completing the cashers. Millionaire-in-waiting Self Professed (Bartlett), needing any pay envelope to join the seven-figure set, couldn't get involved from the eight hole and finished last.

 

Beach Nut Brand, an 8-year-old Branded gelding trained by Mark Harder for co-owners Stable 45 and Scott Kurzrok, returned $8.20 (second choice) for his first win in two seasonal starts. The exacta paid $30.60, the triple returned $176 and the superfecta paid $1,280.

 

Props to Grismore, who swept the $184.50 early double with My Wicked Willie ($12.80) in the $6,000 first race pace and Light Headed ($43.40) in the $16,000 second race trot. (Yonkers)