BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Saturday, September 21, 2013--Sapphire City (Jason Bartlett)
parlayed from the pocket Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $37,000 Open
Handicap Pace.
Assigned the pole, Sapphire City found the only leaver in Michael's Power (Eric
Goodell). That one made the lead before a :28.1 opening quarter-mile, then
rated a 56.4 intermission.
At that point, last week's winner,
Great Vintage (Larry Stalbaum), tried it first-up. He prompted the issue in and
out of the 1:24.1 three-quarters, while Hillbilly Hanover (George Brennan) was
struggling mightily from second-over.
Meanwhile, 9-10 favorite Bolt the
Duer (Mark MacDonald), who did not leave from his ordered eight-hole, was never
a factor.
Entering the lane, Michael's Power
had a length-and-a-half lead, needing only to hold off the horse in his rear
view. Sapphire City dove inside, edging away by a length-and-a-half in 1:51.2.
Great Vintage held third, with Diamond Cowboy (Dan Dube) and Statesman N (Brian
Sears) settling for the remainder. Bolt the Duer wound up last among the octet.
For Sapphire City, a 5-year-old
Metropolitan gelding trained by Paul Blumenfeld for co-owners Centaur Stables
and Jordan Sklut, he returned $13.40 (third choice) for his sixth win in 27
seasonal starts. The exacta paid $97.50, with the triple returning $1,352.
Special Saturday night salute to Ross Wolfenden, a former Yonkers' driving
standout who made his first local appearance in nearly 11 years. The
Delaware-based Wolfenden wound up fifth (dead-heat) and seventh in his two
drives.
The $1.8 million New York Night of
Champions is set for next Saturday, offering eight, $225,000 sire stakes finals
in the richest night of racing in the state.
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
around the NYRA schedule.
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