YONKERS,
NY, Saturday, September 8, 2012--Neither rain, nor more rain, nor even more
rain could stay Sapphire City (Brent Holland) from the swift completion of his
appointed rounds...in all-age track record time.
He prevailed from second-over Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $44,000
Open Handicap in 1:50.2, fastest local mile ever.
Leaving from post position No. 4, Sapphire City was spectating early, sitting
fifth as Rockin' Glass (Dan Dube) set sloppy sail through fractions of :26.3
and 54.4. Rafferty Hanover (George Brennan), in his first visit to the Saturday
night adult table, was pocketed, with Code Word (Jason Bartlett) third.
Down the backside, slight 2-1 choice Aussie Reactor A (Jordan Stratton) moved
from fourth with Sapphire City along for the tow. Aussie Reactor A disposed of
the early leader passing the 1:23 three-quarters, taking a short lead into the
lane. However, Sapphire City--after breaking in the pocket as the favorite a
week ago--would have none of that this evening.
He easily went on by Aussie Reactor A, winning by a couple of lengths in a last
quarter of :27.2 Aussie Reactor A saved second, with a diving-inside
Dancin' Yankee (Jim Pantaleano), One More Laugh (Pat Lachance) and Eagle All
(Eric Goodell) coming away with the small change.
That mile wiped both Silver Almahurst (1993) and Electric Oui (this past May)
out of the record book (all age, 1:50.4), not to mention Sea Venture (this past
May) and Real Flight (this July) out of the subsection for 4-year-old geldings
(1:51).
"I've always liked this horse, even when he was racing in the much lower conditions,"
Holland said. "He's proven he's good enough for the Open Handicaps. I
drove him too conservatively in Philly (closing third in an Invitational) and
last week, he broke because he was locked in a line.
"Tonight, he had a great trip and he did
the rest."
For Sapphire City, a 4-year-old Metropolitan gelding trained by Paul
Blumenfeld for co-owners Centaur Stable and Jordan Sklut, returned $12 (third
choice) for his ninth win in 27 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $48.20, with
the triple returning $229.
The Raceway continues 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.
