Military Master A and Gruden claimed victory Saturday, Oct. 20, winning Yonkers Raceway’s pair of $44,000 Open Handicaps.

Military Master A (Jordan Stratton, $5.80), from post-position six, prevailed from third over in the week’s featured pace.

Pole-assigned Chantepleure inexplicably stuffed 7-5 choice Dr J Hanover in behind at the outset, paying a :26.2 opening quarter-mile price for the privilege. The leader then rated a :55.3 half.

Gokudo Hanover moved from third, taking over past a 1:23.2 third-quarter while Chantepleure stopped and Dr J Hanover was trapped.

Gokudo Hanover owned a short lead in and out of the final turn, but he, too, was inhaled. A second-up Im Some Graduate went by but he couldn’t match strides with Military Master A. The latter, sixth entering the lane, won by a length in 1:52.1. Im Some Graduate was second with Theartofconfusion A third. Scott Rocks and an exhumed-too-late Dr J Hanover rounded out the payees.

For second-choice Military Master A, a seven-year-old Down Under Bettors Delight gelding owned by William Hartt and trained by Lance Hudson, it was his seventh win (third consecutive) in 15 seasonal starts. Driven by Jordan Stratton, he paid $5.80 to win. The exacta paid $30, the triple returned $283 and the superfecta paid $1,065.

The week’s marquee trot saw Gruden leapfrog his half-dozen inner foes and easily go the distance with fractions of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:26 in progress to a 1:55.3 mile. The lead was two-and-a-half lengths off the final turn, the exact same margin at the wire

New Heaven slalomed the cones for second with 9-10 favourite Lean Hanover a first-up third. Tober and Kinetic King settled for the minors.

For second choice Gruden, a five-year-old Muscle Yankee gelding co-owned (as Allard Racing) by (trainer) Rene Allard, Bruce Soulsby and VIP Internet Stable, it was his fifth win in 15 tries this season. Driven by Jason Bartlett, he paid $4.50 to win. The exacta paid $25.80, the triple returned $72 and the superfecta paid $409.

(With files from Yonkers Raceway)