Pocket-sitting Fitzs Z Tam (Yannick Gingras) whipped pacesetting Casimir Jitterbug (Jason Bartlett) in a two-speed number Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $35,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Leaving from post position No. 4 as the just-over-even-money favourite, "Fitz" yielded to Casimir Jitterbug before a :27-second opening quarter-mile. The leader rated a soft (:56-second) half before newly-minted millionaire Noble Falcon (George Brennan) moved from fifth. However, that bid ended right around the 1:24.1 three-quarters, with Casimir Jitterbug owning a length and a half lead into the lane.
He needed only to hold off the horse on his back, but could not. "Fitz" angled out and prevailed, winning by a neck in 1:52. Wayne The Lefty (Brian Sears), Tobago Cays (Jim Pantaleano) and Iwannarace Hanover (Jordan Stratton) completed the cashers.
For Fitzs Z Tam, a five-year-old Cole Muffler gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Martin Scharf and J&T Silva Stables, he returned $4.10 for his sixth win in 23 seaasonal starts. The exacta paid $25.80, with the triple returning $143.
(Yonkers Raceway)