by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Saturday night’s (January 24) $15,000 Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway was reduced to a field of five — or about one participant for each degree.

Undaunted by the “brisk” surroundings, the quintet (Gold Fever was scratched-sick) was led early by the odds-on favorite, the bundled-up Sempre Pronto (Jim Marohn). The people’s choice found the opening quarter-mile in :28¹, with horse-for-the-course Kurt Rustler (Stephane Bouchard) nestled in the pocket.

Sempre Pronto led the gang to a :58⁴ intermission, then had to negotiate a hard, first-over challenge from invading Davay To San Jose (Jeff Gregory). The pace-setter and the interloper dueled through a :29¹ third quarter, with Sempre Pronto maintaining a length lead entering the lane.

All the while, Kurt Rustler was biding his time in the two hole. He then angled inside, showing the most pace in a slow (:31¹) last quarter to edge clear and win by a length and a quarter in 1:59¹.

Gershwin Blue Chip (Greg Merton), sitting behind the winner, grabbed second, while Davay To San Jose won a nose photo from Sempre Pronto for third. Am I Next A (Billy Parker, Jr.) completed the order of finishers/cashers.

Kurt Rustler, a four-year-old Rustler Hanover gelding, was trained by Tim Case for owner Dan Gagliardi. The successful Open Handicap debut was his third win in four seasonal starts, not to mention a third consecutive local victory and fourth in five Westchester work nights.

“Kurt” paid $8.60 as the third choice, leading an $82 exacta. There was no triple wagering due to the abbreviated assemblage.

The Raceway’s Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday night schedule remains in effect for the first two months of the new year. First post remains at the usual 7:40 p.m.

Please note that the Raceway is not open Thursday evening for simulcasting as originally scheduled. Afternoon simulcasting continues to be offered around the NYRA schedule.