BY FRANK DRUCKER,
Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY,
Saturday, January 31, 2015—Sapphire City
(Eric Carlson, $18.20) and Count Me In (George Brennan, $4.80) divided
Yonkers Raceway's Saturday night glory, winning the co-featured $35,000 Open Handicaps.
Sapphire
City annexed the Open Handicap Pace in rallying fashion. Working out a
second-over trip from post position No. 6, he was chasing 4-5 choice Doctor
Butch (Brian Sears). That one had to wait his turn before
making front (:28.2, :58.1), getting around second choice
Mickey Hanover (Dan Dube)
Sapphire
City, towed in behind Classic Gent (Stephane Bouchard), was able to slip to the
cones when "Mickey" dropped anchor before a 1:27 three-quarters.
Doctor
Butch owned a short lead into the lead, but was in trouble from both sides.
Sapphire City ducked inside, getting the jump on a from-last Take it Back Terry
(Brennan). The former whipped the latter by a half-length in 1:55.1. Doctor
Butch faded to third, with Flem N Em N (Jason Bartlett) and Classic Gent
rounding out the payees.
For
fourth choice Sapphire City, a 7-year-old Metropolitan gelding trained by
Paul Blumenfeld for co-owners Centaur Stable and Jordan Sklut, it was his
first win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $108, with the triple
returning $334.50.
Second
choice Count Me In left nothing to chance in the week's marquee trot,
going the distance from post No. 3 in equal halves (:27.3, :58,
1:26.4, 1:56).
With pole-assigned
In Nomine Patri (Jim Marshall III) doing just enough to keep the pocket,
two-time defending champ Not Afraid (Dube) was wrangled back
in third. The 4-5 fave saw Count Me In widen down the
backside, taking a four-length lead in and out of the final
turn. Count Me In was a safe winner, holding off Not Afraid by a
never-threatened half-length.
In
Nomine Patri, Murmur Hanover (Pat Lachance) and Dancehall Mistress (Sears)
settled for the remainder.
For
Count Me In, a 6-year-old Full Count gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by
(trainer) Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 Stable and Michelle Yanek, he's
now 3-for-4 this season. The exacta paid $10.80, the triple returned $36.60 and
the superfecta paid $109.50.
The Raceway’s live season continues (weather permitting) Monday (7:10 PM), then
Tuesday (1 PM) and Thursday through Saturday (all at 7:10 PM).
