Dave Ain't Here, he's in Yonkers winner's circle

After two nights of being confined to quarters by Mother Nature, Yonkers Raceway returned  Saturday, with Dave Ain't Here (Jim Pantaleano) reprising his starring role.

 

Corky Baran (Brent Holland), as the 13-10 choice, worked around Southwind Tabor (Greg Merton), assuming the control panel right at the :27.1  opening quarter-mile. While Southwind Tabor thought about pulling pocket, Corky Baran continued through a :56.2 intermission. Moving toward the 1:25.1 three-quarters,  Palmer's Z Tam (Pat Lachance) found himself right up in the leader's grill.

 

"Corky" would not that one go, but the damage was done.

 

Dave Ain't Here, second-up from post position five, rolled wide and rolled by, getting the jump on the third-over Don'tgetbyme (Jordan Stratton) and winning by a neck in 1:53.4. "Dave's" fourth Open Handicap victory in his last five tries matched his season's-best effort. Southwind Tabor, Palmer's Z Tam and  Corky Baran completed the cashers.

 

For Dave Ain't Here, a 9-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding owned and trained by Ettore Annunziata, he paid $16.80 (fourth choice) for his fifth win in nine seasonal starts. The exacta paid $87, the triple returned $286 and the superfecta paid $5,066. (Yonkers)