Sapphire City, driven by Jason Bartlett, was carried where he needed to be Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $46,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Assigned post position No. 2 and a week after breaking leaving, Sapphire City had no choice but to get away second. This after pylon participant Holdingallthecards (Dan Dube) made his early intentions known -- well, early.
After :27.1 opening quarter-mile and spongy :29.3 next intervals (:56.3 half), millionaire Clear Vision (George Brennan) -- away fifth as the 13-10 favourite -- tried to bull-rush the leader. American Rage (Jim Pantaleano) was gapping from second-over.
However, Holdingallthecards wasn't quite done, holding the fort in and out of a 1:23.3 three-quarters.
Early stretch saw Clear Vision about to win the battle, but lose the war. He did dispose of Holdingallthecards, but Sapphire City ducked inside and prevailed. The margin was a length in 1:51.2. Third went to Fat Mans Alley (Brent Holland) -- who shares the 1:50.2 all-age track record with the winner -- while Mr Hasani N (birthday boy Eric Goodell) and Holdingallthecards rounding out the payees.
For second choice Sapphire City, a five-year-old Metropolitan gelding trained by Paul Blumenfeld for co-owners Centaur Stables and Jordan Sklut, he returned $6.50 for his fifth win in 21 seasonal starts (career earnings now over a half-million dollars). The exacta paid $15.20, with the triple returning $68.50.
Saturday night's baker's dozen buffet handled $1,018,604, the Raceway’s second seven-figure program of the season.
(Yonkers Raceway)