BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, July 26, 2014—Sapphire City
(Dan Dube) did his damage from off the pace Saturday night, winning Yonkers
Raceway's $44,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Forced to change his tact and race from behind, Sapphire City--assigned post
position No. 6--saw Heston Blue Chip (Brent Holland) have work to get
around pole assignee Life Up Front (Eric Carlson) after a contested :26.2
opening quarter-mile.
From there, a rated :29.1 second interval (:55.3 half) before 9-10 favorite Pancetta (Jordan Stratton) moved from fifth. Sapphire City went along for the toward a 1:23.4 three-quarters.
From there, a rated :29.1 second interval (:55.3 half) before 9-10 favorite Pancetta (Jordan Stratton) moved from fifth. Sapphire City went along for the toward a 1:23.4 three-quarters.
Pancetta ducked in a quick rest stop when Life Up Front gave up the ghost.
However, the leader remained such into the lane, with a length-and-a-quarter
advantage in and out of the final turn. Sapphire City angled inside and closed
stoutly, whipping Heston Blue Chip by a neck in 1:51.1...a tick of his
season's-best.
Pancetta settled for third, with Dream Out Loud N (Eric Goodell) and P H
Supercam (Jason Bartlett) settling for the remainder.
For Sapphire City, a 6-year-old Metropolitan gelding trained by
Paul Blumenfeld for co-owners Centaur Stables and Jordan Sklut, he
returned $15.20 (third choice) for his fourth win in 25 seasonal starts. The
exacta paid $48, with the triple returning $152.
New York Sire
Stakes continue Monday night, with the $226,200 Art Watson Pace (3-year-old
fillies).
The Raceway's
five-night-per-week live schedule continues, with first post every Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all
live programs, with afternoon simulcasting
available daily.
