Ontario-sired Casimir Jitterbug and driver Brian Sears survived the scrum from second-over Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceways' $44,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Sitting chilly from assigned post position No. 5, "Jitterbug" watched as Sapphire City (Dan Dube) left around pole assignee and slight 5-2 choice Ronny Bugatti (Eric Carlson). Big N Bad (Jordan Stratton) also left, but found no room at the inn and was hung through early intervals of :26.3 and :55.1.
Down the backside the second time, Casimir Jitterbug slipped out behind Big N Bad before going wide by the 1:23.4 three-quarters.
Meanwhile, Sapphire City held a short lead in and out of the final turn, but the cavalry was about to swallow him up. Casimir Jitterbug had first "run," with Take It Back Terry (George Brennan) knifing inside of that one and Dream Out Loud N (Eric Goodell) and P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett) also moving late.
Casimir Jitterbug found the wire in 1:52, whipping Dream Out Loud N by a half-length. "Terry," P H Supercam and an out-every-step Big N Bad completed the cashers.
Casimir Jitterbug is a seven-year-old Sir Luck gelding owned by Frank Bellino & Sons and trained by Tony O'Sullivan. He returned $12.60 (third choice) for his ninth win in 28 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $105, with the triple returning $469.
While he did not win the feature, Brennan did win six races on the 12-race card.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)