Thirteen straight for Miss G

Back in mid-October of 2006 at Monticello Raceway, three horses finished ahead of Miss Galvinator A. No horse has done so since.

This femme freak -- and we say that with nothing but love -- returned to Yonkers Raceway for her first visit this season in Friday night's $25,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pace, winning in 1:57.3.

She was promptly assigned the eight hole, and it promptly made no difference.

With Jim Marohn taking his regular Westchester seat, this Miss, sent off as the 1-5 choice, was content to sit last early. Luck's Mistress (Eric Goodell) left hard from her six hole, stepping around Jet Lag N (Jeff Gregory) and through the wet snow, to grab the advantage passing a brisk :27.3 opening quarter-mile.

The leader just kept rolling, getting the half in a much-too-quick :57.4. Tactical Rein N (Pat Lachance) began the outer flow foray, with Lucille A (Pat Berry) on her back and Miss Galvinator A racing third-over.

Tactical Rein N easily disposed of the early leader before the 1:28.1 three-quarters, and actually opened 2 1/4 lengths of damp daylight turning for home.

Lucille A was out of ammo, but the other Down Under dame certainly wasn't. Miss Galvinator A, once again strong in the stretch, powered by to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Tactical Rein N and Lucille A were easily second and third, respectively, with Percee Angus (Mark Beckwith) and Patty Ben Beau (Stephane Bouchard) collecting the crumbs.

Owned by Richard Annunziata and trained by Ettore Annunziata, the 8-year-old Fake Left lass has been perfect -- four-for-four-- in 2007, with her baker's dozen wins in succession, including six here, three at the Meadowlands, three at Monticello, and one at Harrah’s Chester. Her lifetime earnings now stand at $509,911 over two continents.

"(Miss Galvinator A) is just a special horse to be this good this long," Marohn said. "She just kicks in at different points in the race. Early on, when she was winning at Monticello, I knew this was a different horse, and tonight, coming back from the Meadowlands, she seemed full of herself warming up, like she was glad to be home."

She returned $2.40, led a $10.80 exacta combining the two favorites, and a $47.40 trifecta.

Friday night also began Yonkers Raceway's 2007 stakes season, with the opening round of the Hopeful Pacing Series for 3-year-old fillies.

The trio of $10,000 events went to The Isle of Pan (by Noble Ability), co-owned by Stake Your Claim Stable, Wallace, Dadetta, trained by Linda Toscano; driven by Stephane Bouchard, the winner was timed in 2:02 and paid $9.40 to win. Makin' a Statement (by Cape Crusader), co-owned by Lynn and trainer Brett Wilfong and driven by Pat Berry, won in 1:59.3 and paid $4.70 to win. And Twin B Tiara (by Bettor's Delight), owned by Robert Batcho, trained by Monico Stanislao, and driven by Stephane Bouchard, won in 2:03.2 and paid $10 for the win.

Friday night also featured a $25,000 Open trot. Unhandicapped, the public made it a two-horse affair, sending classy veterans Lhasa Muscles (Patrick Berry) and Blastaway Sahbra (Stephen Bouchard) each postward at $1.15 to $1 -- though "Blastaway" was the actual favorite.

The latter, alert from post number four, rated rations of :29.3 and 1:00, but was powerless to stave off the determined, first-up assault of the former. Lhasa Muscles, who saw his five-race winning streak end at five in his most recent try across the river, easily went up and over his rival before the 1:29 three-quarters.

Lhasa Muscles turned a two-length lead entering the lane into a 4-3/4 length margin at the wire, in 1:59.3. Blastaway Sahbra saved second over Designable (Jim Marohn), with Speed of Shogun (Jim Meittinis) and last week's winner, Armbro Copenhagen (Ray Schnittker), earning the small spoils.

For Lhasa Muscles, a 6-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding, it was his second victory in three '07 tries. Ross Croghan trained the winner -- now with over $360,000 in career cash -- for owner Howard Schneidler. "Lhasa," two-for-two here during the form spree, returned $4.30, with the exacta paying $9.20, and the trifecta worth $108.50.

Friday night also began Yonkers Raceway's 2007 stakes season, with the opening round of the Hopeful Pacing Series for 3-year-old fillies.

The trio of $10,000 events went to The Isle of Pan (by Noble Ability), co-owned by Stake Your Claim Stable, Wallace, Dadetta, trained by Linda Toscano; driven by Stephane Bouchard, the winner was timed in 2:02 and paid $9.40 to win. Makin' a Statement (by Cape Crusader), co-owned by Lynn and trainer Brett Wilfong and driven by Pat Berry, won in 1:59.3 and paid $4.70 to win. And Twin B Tiara (by Bettor's Delight), owned by Robert Batcho, trained by Monico Stanislao, and driven by Stephane Bouchard, won in 2:03.2 and paid $10 for the win.

Live racing is currently offered at Yonkers with six programs per week, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night at 7:40 p.m. (EST), along with a Tuesday matinee at 1 p.m.. The 2007 stakes season will continue on Saturday night with the opening round of the Hopeful Pacing Series for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

A purse increase takes effect beginning next week. Harness and Thoroughbred simulcasting is available seven days a week, while Empire City's nearly 4,200 video gaming machines are in play daily, from 10 a.m. until 2 a.m. (Yonkers)

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