J P Jackpot began his 2009 season by winning Yonkers Raceway's $60,000 Dominic Frinzi Invitational

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He'd been looking for a repeat perfomance ever since, and, in his last two starts, was so buried alive, you needed the Jaws of Life to extricate him.

Saturday night, catch-driver Jordan Stratton took matters into his own hands early in the $31,000 Open Hasdicap Pace. He and J P Jackpot--assigned post position No. 5--went right to the lead, stepping around Nobles Grand Slam (Greg Grismore) and rolling right along.

J P Jackpot led the octet through fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25.2, with daylight to play with going down the backside the second time.

The rivals chased in earnest in and out of the final turn, where "J Ps" three-length cushion was evaporating faster than the Dow.

Real Nice (Jason Bartlett), the timid 2-1 choice, closed stoutly from second-over, but ran out of racetrack J P Jackpot lasted by a neck in 1:55. Tasmanian Daniel (Larry Stalbaum), who grinded uncovered from last, held third, with last week's winner, Digital Z Tam (Pat Lachance) and Up Front Peyton (Brent Holland) rounding out the payees.

For J P Jackpot, a six-year-old Stand Forever gelding trained by Jody Dunning for Ontario co-owners Ian Fromowitz and John Field, he paid $8.20 (second choice) for that second win in seven seasonal starts.The exacta paid $31.20, with the triple returning $167.50.

Saturday night also offered Round 2 of the Hopeful Pacing Series for three-year-old colts and geldings. The quintet of $10,000 divisions went to...

• Fox Valley Lector, g (by Richess Hanover): owner G&B Stable of Illinois/trainer Jeff Smith/driver Bartlett; 1:57.1/$2.10;
• Palace Cowboy (by Real Desire); co-owners Deborah Kilpe & Stake Your Claim Stb/trainer Linda Toscano/driver Bartlett; (life-best) 1:56.1/$3.80;
• Fly Solo, g (by Riverboat King); co-owners Charles & Giorgan Iannazzo/trainer John Berger/driver Greg Merton; (life-best) 1:57.4/$15.60;
• Artists Rally (by Real Artist); owner Martin Scharf/trainer Mark Ford/driver Ryan Anderson; 1:56.1/$5.10;
• My Gift To You (by Camluck); owner Scharf/trainer Ford/driver Bartlett; 1:57.2/$3.20.

(Yonkers)