YR - WAYNE THE LEFTY WINS 33G OPEN PACE

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, March 17, 2012--Wayne the Lefty (Larry Stalbaum) was up in the final strides Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $33,000 Open Pace.

Wayne The Lefty (#3) was the winner of Saturday night's Open Handicap at Yonkers Raceway (Tom Berg Photo)

 Leaving from post position No. 3, "Wayne" slid into an early pocket as 11-10 favorite Real Nice (Jason Bartlett) led the way through intervals of  :27.3 and :56.1.

MacRaider N (George Brennan) was offering just mild competition in and out of the 1:24.1 three-quarters, with Real Nice taking a seemingly comfortable length-and-a-half lead into the lane.

However, he was bearing in and Wayne the Lefty was bearing out. In the end, "Wayne" stuck his tongue out when it counted, prevailing in the match race by a nose in a life-best 1:51.3. That effort also matched Rock to Glory's fastest local mile of the season.

Third went to a season-debuting Clear Vision (Tyler Buter), with invading Rampage Jackson (Jordan Stratton) and B J's Bequia (Mark MacDonald) rounding out the payees.

For Wayne the Lefty, a 5-year-old Allamerican Ingot gelding owed and trained by Lester Gelardi Jr., he returned $8.70 (second choice) for his third win in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $22.60, with the triple returning $61.50.

Yonkers' five-night-per-week (Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday) live schedule continues. First post for all programs remains at 7:10 PM. The 2012 stakes schedule continues Monday night with the second round of the Petticoat Pacing Series. Evening simulating accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulating available around the NYRA schedule.