Driven by Ron Pierce, Atochia grabbed the gusto from his stablemate Saturday night, nailing Foiled Again and Yannick Gingras in the $455,000 final of Yonkers Raceway's George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series

. The stake was North America's richest harness race of the season to date.

The 25th edition of the Levy--named for the Hall of Founder of Roosevelt Raceway--began with defending series champion Real Nice (Jason Bartlett) and 2009-10 winner Foiled Again leaving like bats out of Hades from post position Nos. 7 and 8, respectively.

Foiled Again made the lead just after a :26.1 opening quarter-mile, then rated a :29-second next interval (:55.1). Atochia, leaving from post No. 3 and coupled with Foiled Again as the 4-5 favourite entry, then moved from fifth. Fitzs Z Tam (Brian Sears) worked from second-up, but gapped.

Meanwhile, Foiled Again found another seemingly-soft station, rating a :28.4 third quarter (1:24) and taking a length lead in the lane. Real Nice couldn't match strides in the pocket, but Atochia was more than up to the challenge. He caught his more celebrated barn buddy late, then snapped him on the money. The margin was a head in 1:52, with Real Nice--beaten a couple of lengths--fading to third.

Nob Hill High (Jordan Stratton) and Fitzs Z Tam completed the cashers, with Blatantly Good (George Brennan), Strand Hanover (Luc Ouellette) and Art Z (Brett Miller) rounding out the order.

For Atochia, a seven-year-old Dragon Again gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, JJK Stables and M1 Stables, he (and his partner) returned $3.60 for his fourth win in six seasonal starts. The exacta (Real Nice second for exotic purposes) paid $13.20, with the triple (Nob Hill high third for exotics) returning $156.

The winner's share of $227,500 pushed Atochia's career bankroll to more than $1.54 million.

For Pierce, it was his second win in this race, having driven Misfit in 1996.

"I really thought Brett [Miller driving Art Z] was going to come first-up, but when he didn't I just went on with it," Pierce said. "I knew that Foiled Again was trying to slow it down on the front, but [Atochia] just kept at it.

"At the wire, and I hate to admit this, my feet nearly fell out of the stirrups. He's a game horse and he deserved it. Ronnie [Burke] asked me earlier in the week if I'd come over and drive him, and I said I'd be glad to."

A $100,000 series consolation was won by Razzle Dazzle (Sears, $3.10) in 1:51.

Rocklamation and driver Yannick Gingras worked out a perfect trip and took advantage Saturday night, winning the $297,000 final of Yonkers Raceway's Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for Open pacing mares.

As expected, See You At Peelers (Brian Sears) controlled from the pole as the 3-5 favourite, seating everyone--save for a parked-out Chancey Lady (Andy Miller)--well before a :26.4 opening quarter-mile. Rocklamation, leaving from post position No. 2, protected the pocket. 'Peelers' then found a :55.3 half (:28.4 second quarter) before Anndrovette (Tim Tetrick) pulled from third.

In a battle of New York-breds, See You At Peelers was getting all she could handle from Anndrovette in and out of the 1:23.2 three-quarters.

'Peelers' was up a desperate nose turning for home, but that was her last hurrah this night. Anndrovette powered past, but she was not out of the woods. Rocklamation left the cones, as nothing was advancing behind Anndrovette.

Rocklamation--who won last season's Lady Maud at Yonkers--edged by late, winning by a half-length in a stakes-record 1:51.3...also a track record for her age.

Anndrovette was a game second, with Ginger And Fred (Jason Bartlett) third. Fox Valley Sage (Cat Manzi) and Western Silk (George Brennan) grabbed the minor moolah, with Billmar Scooter (Eric Goodell), See You At Peelers and Chancey Lady rounding out the rundown.

For Rocklamation, a four-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Our Horse Cents Stables, Stable 45 and Jerry Silva, she (coupled with Ginger And Fred) returned $12 (third choice) for her fifth win in nine seasonal starts.

The exacta paid $42.80, with the triple (Fox Valley Sage third for this wager) returning $607.

"The trip was great," Gingras said. "When I saw Anndrovette going by, I was able to slip out and it worked out for us. I've driven her over the Meadowlands, and I know how talented she is."

As for See You At Peelers, she picked a bad night to have a bad night, losing in Westchester for the first time in 10 career starts.

"She put up some pretty good numbers, but she should have done better than where she ended up," Sears said. “Hopefully, she came out of the race alright.”

The total handle for the 12-race card was a season-high $1,191.338.

(With files from Yonkers Raceway)