Sapphire City continued with his career-best form on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs in the $16,500 Open Pace, winning in 1:49.4. The mile by Sapphire City established a new track record for
four-year-old gelding pacers on the five-eighths mile track.
Leaving from post position number three, Tyler Buter was unhurried as Eastend Eddie (Jason Bartlett) was putting up scorching fractions of :26, :54, and 1:21.1 on the front end. Around the final turn Sapphire City was tracking the leader and eating up racetrack with every stride to easily draw clear and win in a new lifetime best.
The four-year-old gelded son of Metropolitan out of Spectre Almahurst is owned by Centaur Stables and Jordon Skult and is trained by Mitchell MacKenzie. The win was the sixth of the year for Sapphire City, who increased his seasonal bankroll to more than $68,000.
Voice Of Truth (Jim Meittinis) closed late for second, while Sheer Brilliance (Sean Bier) was third.
(Tioga Downs)