Yonkers, NY — Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing, $17.20) and Benhope Rulz N (Shaun Vallee) were a two-speed dance number Saturday night (Sept. 14), the former winning Yonkers Raceway’s $42,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Rock Diamonds N wins the featured event at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday evening. Stephanie Torres photo.

Rock Diamonds N, the Master of the Maritimes by virtue of his win in last month’s Gold Cup & Saucer, had no issues in his first appearance since early summer. From post position five, he cleared his four inside foes well before a 27-second opening quarter-mile.

It was a rated :56.4 intermission, with Benhope Rulz N pocketed and San Domino A (catch-driver Dan Dube) offered a weak, first-up bid from third. Rock Diamonds N threw down a 27-second third quarter (1:23.4) to keep the wolves at bay, taking a 1-1/4 length lead into the lane.

He then held his pocket pursuer by that same margin in 1:51.3, with The Real One (Pat Lachance), 19-10 fave Micky Gee N (Jordan Stratton) and San Domino A settling for the minors.

For fifth choice Rock Diamonds N, a 6-year-old Down Under Rocknroll Hanover gelding co-owned by his escort, Kevin Sywyk and Frank Ranaldi & trained by Heidi Gibbs, it was his eighth win in 18 seasonal starts.

The exacta paid $90, the triple returned $337.50 and the superfecta paid $1,237.