Caviart Luca (George Brennan, $28.60) snapped odds-on Blood Brother (Jason Bartlett) at the wire Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 Open Handicap Pace.
‘Twas a night better suited for Carl Sandburg (fog reference for all you academics out there), Caviart Luca found himself away from post position No. 3. He sat as 3-4 choice Blood Brother two-moved to the lead before a :27.4 opening quarter-mile.
Things remained unchanged after a 57-second intermission and 1:25 three-quarters, with Blood Brother taking a two and a half-length lead into the lane.
Despite a mediocre tow from P H Supercam (Scott Zeron), Caviart Luca was relentless from second-up. He picked off the pacesetter by a nose in 1:52.2, with P H Supercam, Roland N Rock (Jordan Stratton) and City Hall (Tyler Buter) settling for the remainder. E Z Noah (Dan Dube) was outrun.
As an aside, it was the first time Bartlett did not drive P H Supercam here since September 2013.
For fifth choice Caviart Luca, a now-six-year-old Somebeachsonewhere gelding co-owned by trainer Ron Burke (as Burke Racing), Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura, he’s won both of his seasonal starts. The exacta paid $65.50, with the triple returning $204.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)