Real Nice, driven by Jason Bartlett, lasted on the lead Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $44,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Leaving from post position No. 6, Real Nice stepped around 25-1 shot Sapphire City (Brent Holland), securing the lead before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile. He then rated a :56.2 half before even-money favourite Rock To Glory (George Brennan) moved from fourth.

However, that one wasn't making an impact either before or after a 1:24 three-quarters.

That left Real Nice with a length and a half lead turning for home, needing only to hold off his pocket pursuer. He did, beating Sapphire City by a half-length in a snappy 1:51.1, matching his season's-best effort. Rock To Glory held the bottom of the ticket, with Hypnotist (Cat Manzi) and Versado (Jim Pantaleano) rounding out the payees.

For Real Nice, a millionaire seven-year-old Real Artist gelding co-owned by Beverly and Gary Paganelli and Anthony Scussel and trained by Rich Banca, he returned $5.30 (second choice) for his sixth win in 14 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $55.50, with the triple returning $171.

Also Saturday, the Raceway and the Standardbred Owners Association of New York honoured track manager Ed Ryan for his half-century (and counting) career. Ryan has overseen Yonkers’ racing surface since late 2006.

(Yonkers Raceway)