Rank outsider Fameous Western (Larry Stalbaum, $67.50) had everything go his way Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $44,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Assigned post position No. 2, Fameous Western watched the floor show from a primo table. Pole-given Russley Rascal N (George Brennan), as the tepid 2-1 favourite, parked Heston Blue Chip (Brent Holland) through intervals of :26.4 and :55.1.
Fameous Western was pocketed, with Handsome Henry K (Eric Goodell) out, then back in. Frankies Dragon (Brian Sears) wound up second over, with Pancetta (Jordan Stratton) behind him. It was "Russley" leading in and out of the 1:23.2 three-quarters, taking a length and a half lead into the lane.
The leader was about to throw in the towel, with Fameous Western awaiting his turn. He ducked in, whipping the horse on his back -- Dallenbach Hanover (Eric Carlson) -- by a length and a quarter in 1:52.1. "Frankie," Pancetta and Russley Rascal N rounded out the payees.
Fameous Western is a six-year-old Western Hanover gelding co-owned by Anita Fialkow and Sandra Presciti and trained by Lance Hudson. The win was his 11th in 27 seasonal starts. The exacta (two biggest prices on the board) paid $735, with the triple returning $3,594.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)