Pole denizen American Rage and driver Jim Pantaleano prevailed from the pocket Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $46,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Pocketed to slight 5-2 favourite Sapphire City (Jason Bartlett) through early intervals of :27.2 and :56.1, American Rage watched as Shooebees Place (Dan Dube) and Hillbilly Hanover (George Brennan) moved from fourth and fifth, respectively.
'Shoobee' challenged the leader toward the 1:23.4 three-quarters, but Sapphire City owned a length and a half lead into the lane. Unfortunately for him, unwanted advances were coming. American Rage ducked in and Hillbilly Hanover went wide, with the former whipping the latter by a head in 1:51.2.
China Grill (Pat Lachance) closed deep inside for third, with Sapphire City and Shoobees Place relegated to the remainder.
For American Rage, a five-year-old American Ideal gelding owned by Frank Bellino and trained by Tony O'Sullivan, he returned $15 (fifth choice) for his fifth win in 19 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $124, with the triple returning $526.
(Yonkers Raceway)