Southern Allie (Yannick Gingras) pounced off a wicked Saturday night speed duel, winning Yonkers Raceway's $38,000 Open Handicap Pace
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Leaving from post position No. 5, Southern Allie--facing his elders--watched the early floor show. Psilvuheartbreaker (Cat Manzi), the 9-10 favourite, was stung by Southwind Tabor (Stephane Bouchard) past a :27-second opening quarter-mile. In turn, "Heartbreaker" hung Dragon Island (George Brennan) through a :55.4 intermission. Down the backside, Southern Allie moved from sixth, going up and over the battling leaders before the 1:24 three-quarters.
Southern Allie widened to three lengths turning for home, then held off a closing Forensic Z Tam (Pat Lachance) by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.3. Southwind Tabor, Lahaye (Dan Dube) and Psilvuheartbreaker completed the cashers.
For Southern Allie, a three-year-old Allies Western gelding trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, he returned $15.60 (fourth choice) for his 11th win in 30 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $237, with the triple returning $1,665.
Manzi, who began the evening two wins shy of 14,000 for his stellar career, ended it the same way. Manzi after going 0-for-8.
(Yonkers Raceway)