YONKERS, NY, Saturday, October 27, 2012--Odds-on favorite 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 7-year-old Real Artist gelding co-owned by Gary
& 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.
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.
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