Real Nice, driven by Greg Merton, sat off some wicked Saturday night speed, winning Yonkers Raceway's $52,000 Open Handicap Pace
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Leaving from post position No. 5 in what became a field of seven (lessened by one when Pangiorno was scratched-injured), Real Nice was patient early in his 100th career start.
Good thing, as first Valentino (catch-driver Pat Berry), then 6-5 choice Razzle Dazzle (Cat Manzi) tickled the teletimer to the tune of a :26.2 opening quarter-mile and :53.3 half. Down the backside the second time, Silent Swing (Brent Holland) made his move, engaged a tiring leader right at the 1:21.4 three-quarters. Real Nice found himself second-up.
Silent Swing owned a length-and-a-quarter lead entering the lane, with Real Nice inching closer. Silent Swing hit the mile marker in 1:50.2, an all-age track record had business concluded right there. However, Real Nice had his number, going by late to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.3 for the mile-and-one-sixteenth.
Silent Swing held second, with Clear Vision (Jim Pantaleano) closing from last to grab the bottom of the ticket. Power Of A Moment (Larry Stalbaum) and Razzle Dazzle completed the cashers.
For Real Nice, a six-year-old Real Artist gelding trained by Eric Marecki for co-owners Gary and Beverly Paganelli and Anthony Scussel, he returned $13.60 (fourth choice) for his 10th win in 26 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $34, with triple returning $204.50.
While he did not take the feature, Pantaleano was the two-legged star of the evening, with five winners.
(Yonkers Raceway)