Blue Boy sat well off a wicked Saturday night speed duel, then won a three-way battle to grab Yonkers Raceway's $44,000 Open Pace

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With Jason Bartlett driviing for trainer Julie Miller, Blue Boy--leaving from post position No. 6--watched as Lucky Bettor (Greg Grimosre) and J P Jackpot (Cat Manzi) waged a cut-throat early duel.

The former, even-money favourite from the pole, would not let the latter go. Real Nice (Stephane Bouchard) left just enough to keep the pocket closed. The result was a :26.3 quarter-mile and :54.2 intermission--the memo signifying a closer's race went out right about there.

First to move was Four Trumps A (Larry Stalbaum), who had left for a seat. He went up and over the tiring leaders going toward the 1:23 three-quarters, but could not open any daylight. Blue Boy and King Cat Anvil N (Jordan Stratton) both improved their seats from the back of the bus, and it became a threesome to decide it.

Blue Boy went outside of Four Trumps A, with King Cat Anvil N ducking in. Blue Boy won a protracted stretch drive, defeating King Cat Anvil N by a half-length in a season's-best 1:52, with Four Trumps A third. Psilvuheartbreaker (Jim Meittinis) and Real Nice earned the final pay envelopes.

The final time was also the fastest locally in 2009 and earned Blue Boy--with his second consecutive Open/Open Handicap victory--a place as the Raceway's quickest-ever four-year-old pacing gelding.

For Blue Boy, owned by Mack Racing Stables, he returned $9.10 (second choice) for his ninth win in 15 seasonal starts (six-for-eight here). The exacta paid $48, with the triple returning $219.50.

(Yonkers Raceway)