Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing, $17.20) and Benhope Rulz N (Shaun Vallee) were a two-speed dance number Saturday night (Sept. 14), but it was the former that ultimately captured Yonkers Raceway’s $42,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Rock Diamonds N, the ‘Master of the Maritimes’ by virtue of his win in last month’s Gold Cup & Saucer, had no issues in what was his first local appearance since early summer. From Post 5, he cleared his four inside foes well before the :27 quarter pole.
The race then went through a rated :56.4 intermission, which saw Benhope Rulz N pocketed and San Domino A (who was catch-driven by Dan Dube) offer a weak, first-up bid from third. Rock Diamonds N threw down a :27 third quarter (1:23.4) to keep the wolves at bay and led by a length-and-quarter into the lane. He then held his pocket pursuer by that same margin in 1:51.3. The Real One (Pat Lachance), the favoured Micky Gee N (Jordan Stratton), and San Domino A settled for the minor purse cheques.
For fifth choice Rock Diamonds N – a six-year-old Down Under Rocknroll Hanover gelding co-owned by his escort, Kevin Sywyk and Frank Ranaldi and trained by Heidi Gibbs – it was his eighth win from 18 seasonal starts The exacta paid $90, the triple returned $337.50, and the superfecta paid $1,237.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)