Itzaziam closed relentlessly to pick of odds-on Bambino Glide Tuesday night, winning the $73,500 final of the Raceway/Standardbred Owners Association of New York Bonus Trotting Series.

Uninvolved early from post position three, Itzaziam and driver Pat Berry saw Wisenheimer and 93-1 Swishnflick both be put in the game early. Meanwhile, 1-4 fave Bambino Glide found himself parked two turns, finally getting the lead between a :28-second opening quarter-mile and a :57-second intermission.

He continued his advantage in and out of the 1:26.3 three-quarters, with Itzaziam a seemingly-uninvolved sixth from third-over.

However, early troubles getting the lead would bit the favourite late. Itzaziam made up nearly five lengths through the rainy lane, getting to Bambino Glide by a half-length in 1:57. Swishnflick nipped Wisenheimer for third, with Rock Of Cashel grabbing the final pay envelope.

For Itzaziam, a six-year-old Harrys Star Ranger gelding co-owned by his driver and James Craparotta and trained by Frank Scamporino, Jr., he returned $32.80 for his sixth win (third consecutive) in a dozen seasonal starts.

“I was planning on leaving with him, but everyone else seemed to be leaving,” Berry said. “You can’t be too aggressive with him early, because he gets hot. Early on, I thought we had a shot. At the three-quarters, I thought I’d be lucky to get third because there was a lot of traffic, but he just kept going.”

A $30,000 series consolation was won by Monroe County (George Brennan, $3.50) in 1:57.2.

(Yonkers Raceway)