by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — The favorites dropped the gloves in Saturday night’s (October 6) $30,000 Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway, and an outsider was up in time to pick ’em up.

Former claimer Jaguar Hall, enjoying by far the best season of his career, engineered a 15-1 upset from off the pace.

With Jeff Gregory driving for trainer Ross Claridge, Jaguar Hall — given post position three — was in no particular hurry early. However, the two public choices were, as 11-10 Rare Jewel (Jordan Stratton) and 9-5 Napoleon N (Pat Berry) leapfrogged on the lead through freaky fractions of :26 and :54.1.

Rare Jewel two-moved to command, rolliing through a 1:22.4 three-quarters. He had a couple of lengths to play with entering the lane, but the hooves were getting heavy.

Jaguar Hall, who worked out a second-over trip behind Forest Vic A (Steve Smith), found himself blindswitched by a wide move from Mr P B N (Eric Abbatiello). However, Jaguar Hall found a place to pace mid-stretch and burst through.

He defeated Mr P B N by a length in a season’s-best 1:52, with Rare Jewel third. Forest Vic A and Apatchee N (Jim Meittinis) also made money.

For Jaguar Hall, a 5-year-old Cambest gelding owned by Tarek Kazal, it was his 12th win in 26 seasonal starts. An equal-opportunity equne, his last six victories have come with four different drivers. He returned $32.60, with the exacta paying $277 and the triple worth $1,204.

Live racing is currently offered at Yonkers with six programs per week — Monday through Saturday nights at 7:40 p.m. Harness and thoroughbred simulcasting is available seven days a week, while Empire City’s nearly 5,500 video gaming machines are in play daily from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. The facility is celebrating its first anniversary this coming Thursday, October 11.