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

Yonkers, NY — A repeating Caviart Luca (George Brennan, $6.90) bucked the front-end-is-awful trend Saturday night (Jan. 28), repeating in Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Gabriela Trmal photo

Caviart Luca was a 1:52.2 winner in the Open Handicap Pace.

In play from post position No. 3, Caviart Luca went right down the road (:27.3, :56.2, 1:24, 1:52.2), holding off a solid, season-debuting, first-over Long Live Rock (Dan Dube) by a neck. Lucan Hanover (Brent Holland) was a belated third, with Roland N Rock (Jordan Stratton) and Somewhere in LA (Matt Kakaley) also closing for the minors. P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett) bottomed out of the pocket as the 19-10 favorite, finishing last among the octet.

Second choice Caviart Luca, a 6-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding co-owned as Burke Racing by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura, has won all three of his seasonal starts. The exacta paid $58, with the triple returning $804.

Saturday featured a cavalcade of closers, as only four of the 11 horses charted with the lead entering the lane did indeed close the sale. It also featured an un-hit Pick 5, so Sunday afternoon’s gimmick begins with a carryover of $2,436.39 (50-cent base wager, Sunday comprising races six through 10).

Reminder first post for Sunday’s ‘French’ matinee is 12:30 p.m.