by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — In-form A J Corbelli (Ron Pierce) prevailed from second-over Saturday night (March 8), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $33,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Sean Hamrock photo

A J Corbelli was a 1:52.2 winner for driver Ron Pierce.

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 before Mr Hasani N (Jason Bartlett) launched a seemingly-reluctant bid from third.

A J Corbelli was behind that one, while tepid 3-1 favorite Sapphire City (Eric Carlson) was a bit wide as the 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 1-1/2 length advantage into the lane, However, he was about to voted off the island. Mr N Hasani grinded by, but that one could not fend off A J Corbelli.

Second-up to first home, A J Corbelli prevailed by a half-length in 1:52.2, a season’s-best and the fastest 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, a 7-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding co-owned by breeder Anatolia Racing Stable and Michel Allard and trained by Rene Allard, 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.