by Dustin Ross, for Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Yankee Landa was back to business on Sunday afternoon (September 2) at Tioga Downs in the featured $15,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Fred Brown Photography

Yankee Landa holds on at the wire in the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace.

The 8-year-old son of Artsplace posted sub-par performances in his last two starts, but was back on the front end with Howard “Pacing” Parker in the sulky. Yankee Landa cut through fractions of :27, :55.3, and 1:24.1 before digging in and hanging on at the wire to seal the victory in 1:53.3.

It was the fifth victory of the year for the pacer who has career earnings of more than $300,000. He is owned by Perfect World Enterprises, and is trained by Roy Dinges.

Winbak Dimensions and Jim Marohn, Jr. were impressive in the $12,500 Open II Pace for trainer Jim Perry. The duo sat third through scorching fractions of :26.4 and :54 before pulling first-over to clear to the front and draw clear in 1:52.3.

The mile was a new lifetime mark for the 4-year-old Village Jove son who has won 13 of his 27 lifetime starts for a bankroll of more than $293,000 in his short career. It was the first win in only his third start thus far in 2007 for owners William and Jack Heinz of Ohio.

Jimmy Marohn, Jr. and Howard Parker each posted driving doubles on the afternoon’s 13-race card.