Canadian-owned Aslan (Brian Sears, $6.30) was there when it counted Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $32,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Sitting chilly from post position No. 4, he watched as 3-2 choice Melmerby Beach (Jason Bartlett) moved around Journeyman (George Brennan) for the lead. Melmerby Beach seemingly had his own way through intervals of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:25.2.
Between the second and third substations, Aslan engaged from fourth. He had some work to do as “Melmerby” had a length and three-quarter lead into the lane. However, Aslan wasn’t done, fighting the good fight before prevailing by a neck in 1:53.4. Journeyman, rank outsider Panic Disorder (Dan Dube) and Hugh Hefner N (Jordan Stratton) rounded out the payees.
For second choice Aslan, a now-seven-year-old Mach Three gelding owned (as O’Sullivan Racing) and trained by Tony O’Sullivan, the win was his first in a pair of seasonal starts. The exacta paid $17, with the triple returning $58.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)