Sapphire City, driven by Eric Carlson, made amends Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $33,000 Open Handicap Pace.
The race took on a different description early as 7-5 favourite Bettors Edge (George Brennan) jumped it off early. Those who minded their manners were led by last week's pocket winner, Lumberjack Willie (Jordan Stratton).
That one worked around Sapphire City -- who left from post position No. 3 -- before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile. A cheap, :29-second next interval (:56.1 half) before Fat Mans Alley (Jason Bartlett) moved from fourth. He just sat out there though another :29-second sub-station (1:25.1 three-quarters).
It was 'Willie' taking a two-length lead into the lane, but he could not close the seal, Sapphire City, fading on the lead at 7-10 a week ago, closed ranks and went by, as did a stubborn Fat Mans Alley. The former whipped the latter by a length in 1:54, with Lumberjack Willie, Dream Out Loud N (Eric Goodell) and Money Twitch A (Matt Kakaley) settling for the remainder.
Sapphire City, a six-year-old Metropolitan gelding trained by Paul Blumenfeld for co-owners Jordan Sklut and Centaur Stables, he returned $13.40 (third choice) for his first win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $54.50, with the triple returning $228.
Special Saturday props to rank outsider Nathan Feelsgood (Carlson), who authored a 46-1 upset in the $17,500 ninth race pace. The $95.50 win mutuel was a season-high thus far in 2014.
(Yonkers Raceway)