Gallant Yankee, driven by Jason Bartlett, survived a first-over trip Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $32,500 Open Handicap Pace

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Leaving from post position No. 5, he watched 3-4 favourite Western Shore (Dan Dube) work around Arduous (George Brennan) before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile. Western Shore then rated a :29.2 second interval (:56.4 half) before Gallant Yankee took out of fifth.

That one challenged in earnest passing the 1:24.3 three-quarters, drawing just about even turning for home. Gallant Yankee grabbed the lead right about the 1:52.4 mile, grinding his way home in 1:59.4 for the mile-and-one-sixteenth distance. Arduous ducked inside and finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length, with Western Shore, Lucky Bettor (Brett Miller)--winner of the previous two Saturday features--and Southwind Tabor (Jim Pantaleano) completing the cashers.

For Gallant Yankee, a five-year-old Western Hanover gelding trained by Mark Ford for owner James Snyder of Wooster, Ohio, he returned $17 (fourth choice) for his fourth win in six seasonal starts. The exacta paid $84.50, with the triple returning $184.

A special Saturday night shout out to Sheer Desire (Miller, $56.50). In winning the $23,000 12th race pace, he toured the territory in 1:59, setting a new local standard for the added distance. Miller won four races on the dozen-race card.

(Yonkers Raceway)