Always At My Place won the $44,000 Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 4.
Away alertly from assigned post-position six, Always At My Place worked around Doctor Butch, making the lead before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile. He then paced to the half in :56.1.
Favourite Evenin Of Pleasure slipped in fourth from his remanded outside seven-hole. He was then second-over behind Robbie Burns N. Unfortunately for the people’s preference, that tow didn’t help and Evenin Of Pleasure was three-deep into at three-quarters in 1:23.
All the while, Always At My Place owned a length-and-quarter lead into the lane. Doctor Butch slipped off the cones, Pacing Major N advanced inside and Evenin Of Pleasure was trying to sustain his bid.
Always At My Place prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.3, matching his season’s-best effort. Doctor Butch was second and Pacing Major N third, with Evenin Of Pleasure and Barimah A settling for the minors.
For second choice Always at My Place, a seven-year-old Always A Virgin gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Phil Collura, it was her fifth win 42nd career) in 17 starts this season. Driven by George Brennan, he paid $12.80 to win. The exacta paid $155, the triple returned $489 and the superfecta paid $2,661.
Sunday, Aug. 5's ‘French’ matinee offers a first post of 12:30 p.m.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)