Yonkers, NY — Millionaire Blueridge Western (Jason Bartlett) rolled from second-over in the winners over, winning Yonkers Raceway’s Saturday night $33,000 pacing feature.

Tom Berg photo

Jason Bartlett piloted Blueridge Western to a 1:55.1 victory.

Jimmie Hanover (Daniel Dube) and Southern Allie (Yannick Gingras) were on alert early, with Jimmie Hanover — the slight 2-1 choice — retaking right after the :27.3 opening quarter-mile. He then rated a :57.3 intermission before Art’s Ragin’ Jet (Jim Pantaleano) moved from fifth. Blueridge Western, leaving from post position No. 6 after an inside excused absence, hitched a ride on that one’s back going toward the 1:26.2 three-quarters.

Jimmie Hanover clung to a short lead turning for home, but he was about to give up the ghost. Blueridge Western took over mid-stretch, winning by a length in 1:55.1. Southwind Tabor (Stephane Bouchard) found room late to grab second, with 62-1 Keystone Rideau (George Brennan), Southern Allie and Art’s Ragin’ Jet completing the cashers.

Blueridge Western, a 5-year-old Allamerican Ingot gelding owned by Fran Azur and trained by Kevin McDermott, returned $12.80 (fourth choice) for his ninth win in 41 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $73.50, with the triple returning $842.

— Frank Drucker

Saratoga Gaming and Raceway
Classy veteran Rare Jewel found his way to the winner’s circle for the second time in three weeks on Saturday night at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway. The 9-year-old son of Artiscape scored his sixth win on the season, besting the group of top pacers at the Spa despite a tough journey. Dan Cappello, Jr. fired up the defending Pacer of the Year at Saratoga at the start and won the early scramble for the lead by getting there in :27.3. The fast fractions continued for the Rich Banca trainee but Rare Jewel held strong and actually drew clear in the stretch before stopping the timer in 1:53. The victory moved the lifetime earnings of Rare Jewel to over the $1.25 million mark and was the second front end score for the veteran in the last three weeks. Vernon Downs invader Four One One (Fern Paquet, Jr.) rode the pocket and finished second while Handsome Harry (Brad Kramer) ended up third despite being parked the mile. Rare Jewel returned $11.20 to win as he was released at odds of 9-2.

Batavia Downs
The dynamic duo of driver Ken and trainer Sherri Holliday had a huge Saturday night at Batavia Downs Casino when they made five winner’s circle appearances, including winning the featured $9,000 Open with the rags to riches pacer Sand Forever. Just a $2,500 claimer at Running Aces earlier this season, Sand Forever made the transition to the Open ranks a winning one when he flew down the stretch to nail the front running Most Happy Rider (Kevin Cummings) by a head in 1:57.3 in the weekly pacing feature. Zackor (Ron Beback, Jr.) checked in third. The win was Sand Forever’s 15th of the 2010 campaign and 25th of his career in 80 lifetime starts. He’s a 5-year-old Stand Forever gelding. He returned $5.80 to win, being sent off as the lukewarm favorite. The Hollidays other winners were Scudder ($10.00), Bruener ($5.50 — now three for three in Western New York), Masteroftheclass ($2.60) and Nifty Prescott ($18.60). Last year’s Downs leading conditioner Sherri Holliday began the evening in a tie with Ron Beback, Jr. in the race for top trainer honors. With only two more nights left in the 2010 season her five win lead would now seem insurmountable. Dave McNeight III, a 20-year-old provisional reinsman, had a night he soon won’t forget when he scored the first hat trick of his career. In 24 lifetime drives he’s won six of them and definitely looks like a young man with a bright future. Another provisional reinsman, Denny Bucceri, had a big weekend by going two for two. He’s now won five times in 29 starts this year. Kevin Cummings heads into the closing weekend with a five win cushion over Jack Flanigen in his bid to defend his dash driving title. Both were winless on the Saturday program.