by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Barimah A (Brent Holland, $25) did it first-up Saturday night (June 30), winning Yonkers Raceway’s featured $44,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Making the first lead from assigned post position two in the field of a half-dozen, Barimah A then gave it up to the outside numbers. Even-money favorite Always At My Place (George Brennan) strung out second choice Bit Of A Legend N (Dan Dube), the second choice parked into the second turn past a :26.4 opening quarter-mile to take over.

Bit Of A Legend N did rate a 30-second next interval (:56.4 intermission) before Barimah A was out from third. Capozzo (Jason Bartlett) chased that one, with Great Vintage (Mark MacDonald) working from third-over.

Bit Of A Legend N led though a 1:24.2 three-quarters, but Barimah A was about to wear him down. The pursuer went by early in the lane, then held off Capozzo by three-quarters of a length in 1:52. Bit Of A Legend N held third, with Great Vintage and Always At My Place reduced to the minors.

Theartofconfusion A (Mike Simons) received lovely parting gifts.

For fifth choice Barimah A, an 8-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding owned by Boss Racing USA and trained by Paul Blumenfeld, it was his sixth win in in 16 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $129, the triple returned $476.50 and the superfecta paid $2,027.

Reminder the first of July’s Sunday ‘French’ matinee goes at 12:40 p.m., with the first four races going as the added-distance, overflow-field trots.