Great Vintage, driven by Larry Stalbaum, was first to the lead and first to the line Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $37,000 Open Pace.
With schnoz on starting gate from post position No. 4, Great Vintage made the lead around I Fought Dalaw (Mark MacDonald) right at the :27.1 opening quarter-mile. Then, locally-debuting Aracache Hanover (George Brennan), as the 1-2 favourite, moved from third.
'Aracache' found a :55.4 intermission before second choice Domethatagain (Brent Holland) moved from fourth. That one prompted the issue in and out of the 1:23.4 three-quarters, though Aracache Hanover maintained a length and a half lead into the lane.
However, his $1.5 million career resume failed to impress the Westchesterites. Great Vintage ducked inside, winning a protracted duel by a nose in 1:51.4. Diamond Cowboy (Jason Bartlett) closed stoutly to snatch second, with Aracache Hanover -- beaten a head -- Domethatagain and I Fought Dalaw completing the cashers.
For Great Vintage, a five-year-old statebred son of American Ideal trained by Jimmy Takter for co-owners Christina Takter, John Fielding, Goran Anderberg and Falkbolagen AB, he returned $13.80 (third choice) for his seventh win in 24 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $152, with the triple returning $641.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)