Dragon Island (George Brennan) took it to the house Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $38,000 Open Handicap Pace
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Assigned post position No. 6, Dragon Island was put in play early. He grabbed the lead from last week's winner, Ghees House (Brent Holland), before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile. A rated :30-second next interval helped the cause before Keystone Rideau (Eric Goodell) moved stoutly from fourth.
Dragon Island dealt with that pesky pursuer in and out of the 1:25.1 three-quarters, owning a length-and-a-quarter lead into the lane. The leader eventually disposed of Keystone Rideau by the same margin in 1:53.4.
Forensic Z Tam (Pat Lachance)--as the 3-1 favourite--Lucky Bettor (Yannick Gingras) and Blueridge Western (Jason Bartlett) grabbed the small change.
For Dragon Island, a nine-year-old Dragon Again gelding owned by Lightning Lane Stable of Staten Island, New York and trained by Lou Pena, he returned $8.20 (slight second choice) for his first win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $75.50, with the triple returning $317.
(Yonkers Raceway)