Sapphire City, driven by Brent Holland, duplicated last week's down-the-road effort Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $44,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Leaving from post position No. 2--again--Sapphire City stepped around Hypnotist (Cat Manzi), then pocketed Jerrys Brown Gold (Pat Lachance). There was no room at the inn early for 3-10 choice Real Nice (Jason Bartlett), who found himself parked at the :27-second opening quarter-mile.

Real Nice eventually found a seat fourth, only to be on the move again before a rated :56.4 intermission.

Sapphire City continued to lead in and out of the 1:23.4 three-quarters, refusing to relent to the people's preference. Real Nice eventually backed away, with Sapphire City opening a length and a half turning for home.

He finished it off from there, whipping a deep-in-the-passing-lane Hypnotist by a half-length in 1:52, matching last week's time. Third went to Jerrys Brown Gold, with Fitzs Z Tam (Larry Stalbaum) and Real Nice settling for the small change.

For Sapphire City, a four-year-old Metropolitan gelding trained by Paul Blumenfeld for co-owners Centaur Stable and Jordan Sklut, returned $9.20 (second choice) for his eighth win in 19 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $155.50, with the triple returning $588.

(Yonkers Raceway)