You didn’t have to be a Yonkers Raceway “sissy” Friday night (July 21), but it didn’t hurt.

HP Sissy (Dan Dube, $9.90) picked off pacesetting Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton) late in the lane, winning the weekly $55,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

The race became a glorified two-speed number, with Sell A Bit N, from post position No. 2, leaving around the pole-dancing HP Sissy. Regil Elektra (Jason Bartlett) landed in a three-hole through early intervals of :27.1 and :56.1.

Regil Elektra made a second move toward the 1:24 three-quarters, but Sell A Bit N owned a length and a half lead into the lane. Despite getting away rather cheaply, she could not stall the lass directly behind her. “Sissy” was anything but, ducked inside and won by a half-length in a life-best 1:52.1.

Sell A Bit N easily held second, with Lispatty (George Brennan) third. Regil Elektra and tepid 5-2 choice I Said Diamonds (Matt Kakaley) settled for the smaller envelopes.

For fourth choice HP Sissy, a four-year-old daughter of Up the Credit owned and bred by Claude Hamel of Ayer’s Cliff, Que., and trained by Rene Allard, the win was her seventh in 14 seasonal starts (two-for-two since hitting town). The exacta paid $46, with the triple returned $119.50.

Bartlett, who began the night with 6,997 career victories, went one-for-11 Friday, so the quest for the next milestone continues upstate at Saratoga on Saturday night (July 22).

A friendly reminder from Yonkers Raceway that Saturday evening’s (July 22) Pick 5 wager starts with a carryover of $2,137.14.

The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager comprising races seven through 11 during every racing card. It has no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners (as was the case Friday night), the entire pool (minus takeout) moves to the next racing program.

(Standardbred Canada)