Locally-debuting Statesman N (Brian Sears, $2.70) prevailed from first-up Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $46,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Leaving from post position No. 4, Stateman N watched as longshot Here We Go Again (Brent Holland) and eight-holer Rockincam (Eric Goodell) both left. The former led the way through a :26.3 quarter-mile and :56.3 intermission, with the latter wedged in behind. Statesman N then took out of fourth, but the 3-10 favourite didn't seem overly interested at first.
Here We Go Again was giving his 20-1 takers a feeling of empowerment at the 1:24.2 three-quarters before the people's preference finally received the memo. Statesman N disposed of the leader in early stretch, then whipped a slipping-out Rockincam by a length and three-quarters in 1:52.1. Nob Hill High (Dan Dube) was a ground-saving third with Here We Go Again and Keystone Velocity (Mark MacDonald) grabbing the remainder.
Statesman N, a six-year-old Down Under Christian Cullen gelding trained by Mark Harder for co-owners Our Horse Cents Stable, Jerry Siva and Peter Venturini, has won four of nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $19.80, with the triple returning $132.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)