Phil Your Boots (Tyler Buter, $7.40) took it to the house Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $24,000 Preferred Handicap Pace.
Sent immediately to work from post position No. 5, Phil Your Boots worked around pole-sitting Cyclone Kiwi N (Jason Bartlett) and was on his way. He then led the way (:27.2, :56.1, 1:24.3, 1:52.3), with 11-10 favourite Aslan (Brian Sears) trying it first-up from third. “Phil” owned a length and a half lead into the lane, then held off Aslan by a length and three-quarters. Third went to Cyclone Kiwi N, with Drunken Desire A (Matt Kakaley) and Fameous Western (George Brennan) showing belated interest for the final pay envelopes.
For second choice Phil Your Boots, a now-six-year-old Shanghai Phil gelding owned by Louis Frascella and trained by Andrew Harris, he won his seasonal debut. The exacta paid $20.20, with the triple returning $42.20.
The Raceway’s season continues with a “French-centric” Sunday afternoon (first post 12:10 p.m.), along with Monday (7:10 p.m.) and Tuesday (1 p.m.).
(Yonkers Raceway)