In-form A J Corbelli, driven by Ron Pierce, prevailed from second-over Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $33,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Unhurried early from post position No. 4 -- his best starting venue the way the race was laid out -- A J Corbelli watched lone leaver American Rage (Brian Sears) work around pole-assignee Lumberjack Willie (Jordan Stratton).
American Rage found early intervals of :27.1 and :56-seconds flat before Mr Hasani N (Jason Bartlett) launched a seemingly-reluctant bid from third.
A J Corbelli was behind that while, while tepid 3-1 favourite Sapphire City (Eric Carlson) was a bit wide as outer tier was a bit late in developing.
American Rage continued to lead in and out of the 1:23.4 three-quarters, with a length and a half advantage into the lane. However, he was about to be voted off the island.
Mr Hasani grinded by, but that one could not fend off A J Corbelli. Second-up to first home, prevailing by a half-length in 1:52.2 -- a season's-best and the fast local mile of 2014. Third went to Lumberjack Willie, with a cone-skimming Clear Vision (George Brennan) and Pan From Nantucket (Eric Goodell) rounding out the payees.
American Rage faded to seventh, while Sapphire City wound up last among the octet.
A J Corbelli is a seven-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding co-owned by New York breeder Anatolia Racing Stable and Quebec's Michel Allard. His victory helped trainer Rene Allard complete a sweep of this week's Open Paces at Yonkers, as he also won the mares event on Friday with Yagonnakissmeornot.
A J Corbelli returned $15.20 (sixth choice) for his fifth win (fourth consecutive) in six seasonal starts. The exacta paid $99.50, with the triple returning $440.
The season's highest win mutuel was also turned in Saturday night, when 51-1 Bettor Design (Bartlett, $105) was up on the money in the $15,000 fourth race pace.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)