Southern Allie, despite four weeks off, proved best Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $38,000 Open Handicap Pace
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Leaving from post position No. 3, "Allie" and driver Yannick Gingras were away third, watching as Pangiorno (catch-driver Cat Manzi) led through early intervals of :26.2 and :55.2. Southern Allie made his move in turn three, engaging--then overtaking--the leader right at the 1:24.1 three-quarters.
The new boss widened to 2-3/4 lengths off the final turn, but began to shorten stride nearing the 1:52.1 mile marker. However, Southern Allie had enough of an advantage to finish the job, winning by a length-and-a-quarter. The mile-and-one-sixteenth went in 1:59.4.
Nob Hill High (Dan Dube) was a cone-skimming second, with Tobago Cays (Jim Pantaleano), a from-last Lucky Man (Brian Sears) and Corky Baran (Eric Goodell) picking up the morsels. Andy Roo (Tim Tetrick) wound up last among the seven as the 6-5 favourite.
For Southern Allie, a four-year-old Allies Western gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi, he returned $11.60 (third choice) for his eighth win in 27 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $160, with the triple returning $637.
Yonkers' regular five-night-per-week schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) remains in effect, with the 2011 racing season ending Friday night, Dec. 23. First post for all racing programs is 7:10 p.m.
(Yonkers Raceway)