Tasmanian Daniel (Larry Stalbaum) made it three wins in his last four starts on Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $31,000 Open Handicap Pace. Ordered outside his six rivals (Rare Jewel was ill), "Daniel" settled in fifth early. Noble's Grand Slam (Greg Grismore) led the gang through a :27.1 quarter and :57.1 intermission. Johnny Walker (Jason Bartlett) played the role of pocket protector, with 2-1 choice J P Jackpot (Stephane Bouchard) dropping in third. Cheyenne Hollywood (Ryan Anderon), who was looped leaving before wedging in fourth, tried it first-up. "Hollywood" carried "Daniel" toward the 1:26.2 three-quarters, but Noble's Grand Slam continued to maintain the advantage. He took a 1-1/4 length lead into the lane, with Tasmanian Daniel wide and moving. "Daniel" went up and over the leader, getting to the wire a length ahead of Johnny Walker in 1:55.1. Noble's Grand Slam, a never-clear J P Jackpot and Up Front Peyton (Brent Holland) completed the cashers. Tasmanian Daniel, a 7-year-old Keystone Raider gelding owned and trained by Kimberly Asher, paid $11.20 (fourth choice) for his third win in six seasonal starts. The exacta returned $69.00, with the triple paying $316.00. Yonkers also deferred to the fairer sex during the 13-race Valentine's Night program, as the Stacy Chiodo-trained and driven Mighty Young Joe ($4.00) schooled the boys in the $15,000 second race pace. Stacy and "Joe" wired the field in 1:56.1. (Yonkers)
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