Published: March 20, 2010 1:26 am ET

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Brent Holland, Call Me Yours and Winnin Image engaged in March Marquee Madness as stars of Yonkers Raceway's Friday night fare.

Holland won the 4,000th race of his career guiding Bet To Win to victory lane in the evening's $27,000 Preferred Trot. The six-year-old Credit Winner gelding, who owns the fastest local trot mile of the season (1:55.3), negotiated tonight's terrain in 1:57 as the favourite.

As for Holland, he comes off the two best seasons of his career, setting personal highs in both victories (447 in 2008) in earnings ($3.6 million in purses in '09). It was in the latter portion of 2008 that Holland - along with trainer Paul Blumenfeld - made the move from Chicago to the metropolitan area. Holland currently ranks fifth in the 2010 Yonkers standings.

"I'm happy I made the move east," he said. "It's a bit more intense here, but I'm finding my way like a green three-year-old."

Holland, 38, and a native of Wilmington, Ohio, began working with horses for a neighbour, Maynard Hagemeyer.

"He and Bob Farrington in Chicago both taught me a lot," Holland said. "When I won my first, I used to look up to all the great driver and never thought about a number like 4,000. You just go out and try to do your best."

His first winner came in his first pari-mutuel start as an 18-year-old with longshot E Cs Best in 1989 at Lebanon Raceway. Holland, who has more than $32.6 million in purses, was joined by his wife, Dee, for a winner's circle presentation.

In the weekly $32,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace, Call Me Yours - assigned post position two - called the three-hole home as 8-5 favourite Lightning Treasure led through intervals of :28, :57.2 and 1:25.2.
Call Me Yours then moved out just before the three-quarters for driver Stephane Bouchard, engaging and engulfing the leader in mid-stretch. She edged away by three-quarters of a length in a season's best 1:53.3. Lightning Treasure was the bridesmaid, while Soiree rounded out the top three finishers.

For Call Me Yours, a five-year-old daughter of Your Nemesis trained by Mark Ford for owner Stephen Gillard, she returned $9 for her third win in nine seasonal starts.

The weekly $32,000 Open Handicap Trot saw 11-1 outsider Winnin Image and driver Greg Grismore parlay a pocket trip into a winning effort.

Leaving from post three, Winnin Image sat behind last week's winner, Upsidedown. That one put up weigh stations of :28.3, :59.1 and 1:28.1. Beach Nut Brand grinded first-up, while race favourite Master Pine soiled a second-over trip by misbehaving down the backside. Upsidedown owned the lead as the field came into the lane, but Winnin Image ducked in and dashed off, winning by a length in 1:57.2. Victors Vicky was second best and third prize went to Upsidedown.

For Winnin' Image, an eight-year-old American Winner gelding trained by Ron Burke for owner Linda Matejceck, he returned $25.60 for his first win of the season.

Friday night also included four, $12,500 divisions in first preliminary round of the Petticoat Pacing Series for three and four-year-old fillies and mares

Docdor Libby turned in the fastest series effort, a sharp 1:54.3 effort en route to a solid victory for driver Jeff Gregory. Jake Hartline trained the odds-on four-year-old daughter of Camluck for co-owners Santo Farina, Kevin Quinn and Frank Roberts.

The other Petticoat series winners were Artistic Gal (1:57.3), Forever Libby (1:56.4) and Rev Me Up (1:56.2).

The weather-delayed $49,700 final of the Hopeful Pacing Series for three-year-old colts and geldings goes Saturday night.

(Yonkers Raceway)