Upstate invader Upfront Billy, driven Brian Sears, strolled by from a loose pocket Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $38,500 Open Handicap Trot.

Leaving from post position No. 3 as the 8-5 favourite, 'Billy' left, then gave it up to double-digit proposition Perfect Rendition (Larry Stalbaum) before a :28.2 opening quarter-mile. Perfect Rendition rated a :58.2 half as Political Desire (Jason Bartlett) tried it first-over.

That one didn’t make much an impression in and out of the 1:26.2 three-quarters, with Perfect Rendition opening to two and a half lengths entering the lane.

However, Upfront Billy quickly closed ranks, ducking inside and winning by a length in 1:55.3. Perfect Rendition held second, with Imperial Count (Tyler Buter), Master Pine and Political Desire completing the cashers.

Upfront Billy, a four-year-old Andover Hall gelding co-owned by trainer Mark Ford and Up Front Racing, returned $5.30 for his sixth win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $62, the triple paid $235.50 and the superfecta paid $1,564.

Saturday night, the Raceway presents one of its premier stakes cards of season with the $450,000 final of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series and the $285,000 finale of the Blue Chip Matchmaker.

(Yonkers Raceway)