Odds-on favourite Real Nice (Jordan Stratton, $3.30) worked out a pocket trip Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $44,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Leaving from post position No. 3, Real Nice made the lead before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile. He then relinquished that role to eight-hole assignee Great Vintage (Dan Dube), who negotiated a :55.3 half. Rock Em (Larry Stalbaum) then moved from fifth, prompting through a :28.1 third quarter (1:23.4). That one gave way grudgingly as Great Vintage owned a length and a half lead into the lane.
However, his advantage in the polls was about up, as Real Nice ducked inside and edged by, winning by a length and a quarter in 1:52. Or (Jason Bartlett), who had slipped out behind Rock Em, slipped into second, with a from-last Sapphire City (Brent Holland), Rock Em and Eagle All (Eric Goodell) rounding out the payees. Great Vintage faded to seventh.
For Real Nice, a millionaire seven-year-old Real Artist gelding co-owned by Gary and Beverly Paganelli and Anthony Scussel and trained by Rich Banca, it was his ninth win in 23 seasonal starts (41st career victory). The exacta paid $15.40, with the triple returning $166.50.
(Yonkers Raceway)