Sapphire City (Eric Carlson) snapped Ronny Bugatti (Tyler Buter) at the wire Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $35,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Those two had some "sloppy" numbers to chase, as 11-10 choice Beach Memories (George Brennan) rolled through intervals of :26.4, :55.1 and 1:22.4. He opened to two lengths turning for home, but was about to hit the skids. Ronny Bugatti, who had come first-up, slipped in for a breather after pocket-sitting Orillia Joe (Brent Holland) quit.
Right behind "Ronny" was Sapphire City who, from post position No. 3, had advanced down the backside. Those two had the length of the lane to decide it, with Sapphire City winning by a desperate head in 1:52. It was a from-last P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett) -- again on display late -- grabbing third, with Beach Memories and E Street Plan (Matt Kakaley) settling for the remainder.
For slight second choice Sapphire City, a six-year-old Metropolitan gelding trained by Paul Blumenfeld for co-owners Centaur Stable and Jordan Sklut, he returned $11.40 for his eighth win (fourth consecutive) in 37 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $57.50, with the triple returning $323.50.
The Raceway's five-program-per-week live schedule continues through Dec. 14, with first post every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 p.m., and the fifth of six Sunday matinees (replacing Tuesday evenings) next weekend just after 11 a.m. Evening simulcasting accompanies all night programs, with afternoon simulcasting available daily.
(Yonkers Raceway)