Legal Litigator rules in Yonkers feature

Favored Legal Litigator (Cat Manzi) lasted on the lead Saturday night, earning a Yonkers Raceway repeat in the $32,000 Open Handicap Pace.

 

Ordered outside his six rivals, Legal Litigator was wide early, taking the lead from Lindy's Bandit (Greg Grismore) after a :27 opening quarter mile. He then rolled by a :55 intermission and 1:23.2 three-quarters. Jo Pa's Wild Card (Jim Pantaleano) tried it first-up, while Lindy's Bandit was bottoming out of the pocket.

 

All the while, Legal Litigator widened to three lenghts turning for home--and he needed most of that. Southwind Tabor (Ryan Anderson), next to last early, rallied but missed by a nose. Legal Litagator prevailed in 1:53.1, a tick slower than last week but good enough here. Digital Z Tam (Patrick Lachance), Diamond Stick Pin (Jeff Gregory) and Jo Pa's Wild Card earned the minor awards.

 

Legal Litigator, a 5-year-old Camluck gelding owned by Bob Hamather and trained by Casie Coleman, returned $4.60 for his second win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $21, with the triple (three wagering favorites) returning $52.

 

Manzi ihad five winners in 11 drives on the 12-race Saturday card. (Yonkers)