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

Yonkers, NY — Caviart Luca (George Brennan, $28.60) snapped odds-on Blood Brother (Jason Bartlett) at the wire Saturday night (Jan. 21), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $45,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Jelena Gerga photo

Caviart Luca captured his second 2017 in his second trip to the gate at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday evening.

‘Twas a night better suited for Carl Sandburg, fog reference for all you academics out there, where Caviart Luca found himself away from post position three. He sat as 3-4 choice Blood Brother two-moved to the lead before a :27.4 opening quarter-mile.

Things remained unchanged after a :57-second intermission and 1:25 three-quarters, with Blood Brother taking a 2-1/2 length lead into the lane. Despite a mediocre tow from P H Supercam (Scott Zeron), Caviart Luca was relentless from second-up. He picked off the pace-setter by a nose in 1:52.2, with P H Supercam, Roland N Rock (Jordan Stratton) and City Hall (Tyler Buter) settling for the remainder. E Z Noah (Dan Dube) was outrun.

As an aside, it was the first time Bartlett did not drive P H Supercam here since Sept. 2013.

For fifth choice Caviart Luca, a now-6-year-old Somebeachsonewhere gelding co-owned as Burke Racing by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura, he’s won both of his seasonal starts. The exacta paid $65.50, with the triple returning $204.