Statesman N (Jordan Stratton) snapped favoured Malak Uswaad N (Eric Goodell) on the money Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $46,000 Open Pace.
Watching early from post position No. 5, Statesman N saw China Grill (Steve Smith) seat Flem N Em N (Jason Bartlett) early, then Mr Hasani (Dan Dube) and 2-5 choice Malak Uswaad N stuck their noses in. It resulted in early fractions of :27.2 and :55 flat.
Pancetta (Brent Holland) then moved from fifth, with Statesman N towed along. Mr Hasani owned the lead in and out of a 1:23.1 three-quarters, but was about done entering the lane.
Malak Uswaad N ducked in, Statesman N went wide and earned the nose nod in 1:51.3. China Grill, Mr Hasani N and Pancetta settled for the small change.
For Statesman N, a six-year-old Down Under Christian Cullen gelding trained by Mark Harder for co-owners Our Horse Cents, J&T Silva Stables and Peter Venturini, he returned $11.40 (second choice) for his sixth win (second consecutive) in 20 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $18.80, with the triple returning $46.80.
The driving colony shared the wealth during the 13-race card. Holland won four races, while Stratton and Bartlett each won three. George Brennan added a couple, while Goodell won once.
(Yonkers Raceway)