Leaving from post position No. 6, Real Nice stepped around 25-1 shot Sapphire
City (Brent Holland), securing the lead before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile. He
then rated a 56.2 half before even-money favorite Rock to Glory (George
Brennan) moved from fourth.
However, that one wasn't making an impact either before or after a 1:24
three-quarters.
That left Real Nice with a length-and-a-half lead turning for home, needing
only to hold off his pocket pursuer.
He
did, beating Sapphire City by a half-length in a snappy 1:51.1...matching his
season's-best effort. Rock to Glory held the bottom of the ticket, with
Hypnotist (Cat Manzi) and Versado (Jim Pantaleano) rounding out the payees.
For Real Nice, a millionaire 7-year-old Real Artist gelding co-owned by Beverly
and Gary Paganelli and Anthony Scussel and trained by Rich Banca, he
returned $5.30 (second choice) for his sixth win in 14 seasonal starts.
The exacta paid $55.50, with the triple returning $171.
Also Saturday, the Raceway and the Standardbred Owners Association of New York
honored track manager Ed Ryan for his half-century (and counting) career. Ryan
has overseen Yonkers’ racing surface since late 2006.
Beginning Monday night, the Raceway returns to its normal five-night-per-week
live schedule, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and
Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with
afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.
