Odd-on favourite Giddy Up Lucky (Jason Bartlett) played leapfrog on the lead Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $36,000 Open Handicap Pace
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Leaving from post position No. 4 (in one notch after an inside defection), Giddy Up Lucky had nose on gate. He left, as did second-choice Jeremys Successor (Yannick Gingras) directly to his outside.
Giddy Up Lucky reclaimed the lead just after a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.
He then found a :56-second intermission and 1:24 three-quarters. Runover Feeling (George Brennan) tried it first-up, but never came close.
Giddy Up Lucky, up a couple of lengths turning for home, held off "Jeremy" by a length in 1:52.1. Digital Z Tam (Pat Lachance), Southwind Tabor (Ryan Anderson) and Nob Hill High (Jim Meittinis) completed the cashers.
For Giddy Up Lucky, a four-year-old Camluck gelding trained by Josh Green for co-owners David Rovine and Larry Baron, he returned $3.60 for his ninth win in three dozen seasonal starts. He had been the beaten favourite in his precious three efforts. The exacta paid $10, with the triple returning $35.40
(Yonkers Raceway)