Tepid favourite Arts Ragin Jet (Jim Pantaleano), first-over after a quick Yonkers Raceway half, won Saturday night's $42,500 Open Handicap Pace
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Leaving from post position No. 5 (in one notch after an inside defection), "Art" watched the early scrum. Handsome Harry (Stephane Bouchard) was hard-pressed to make the lead after a :26.3 opening quarter-mile. He then gave up the baton to a parked-two-turns Legal Litigator (Dan Dube) right after a spiffy :54.3 intermission.
Arts Ragin Jet then moved from fifth, going up and over Legal Litigator well before the 1:23.1 three-quarters. "Art" had a length-and-half lead in and out of the final turn, but Psilvuheartbreaker (Cat Manzi) had dead-aim. However, he was lugging in noticeably, despite his chauffeur resorting to a left-handed stick. Meanwhile, Atochia (Yannick Gingras), racing third-over, angled inside for the drive.
When the dust particles settled, Arts Ragin Jet held sway, beating "Heartbreaker" by short schnozz a 1:53.1. Forensic Z Tam (Steve Smith), last at the three-quarter pole, was third, beaten just a head for all the glory. Atochia and Ghees House (Brent Holland) completing the cashers.
For Arts Ragin Jet, a seven-year-old Jet Laag gelding trained by Lou Pena for J L Benson Stables, he returned $6.40 for his fifth win in 28 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $66, with the triple returning $409.50.
New York Sire Stakes continues here Thursday night, with the $237,636 Lew Barasch Trot for two-year-old colts and geldings.
(Yonkers Raceway)