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

Yonkers, NY — Rare Jewel won the scrum to the lead, put up ambitious fractions, then held off his only challenger to win Saturday night’s (November 17) $30,000 Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway.

With Larry Stalbaum driving for trainer Rich Banca, Rare Jewel was a desperate nose better than King Cat Anvil N (Jordan Stratton) in a snappy 1:51.4.

Rare Jewel, with his nose on the gate from post position seven, was joined early by King Cat Anvil N, 32-1 rank outsider Cheyenne Hollywood (Jack Baggitt, Jr.) and Pennsylvania partygoer All Over the Place (Stephane Bouchard).

Rare Jewel took over from “Hollywood” right after a contentious :27 second opening quarter-mile, then hung All Over the Place –ordered to the outside — for all he was worth.

A :55 second intermission precluded a 1:23 three-quarters, with Rare Jewel taking a 1-1/4 length lead into the lane.

With both Cheyenne Hollywood and All Over the Place backing up — the latter gapping — King Cat Anvil N slipped out of third and had dead aim on his target.

However, Rare Jewel — closing in on $800,000 lifetime — was resolute, getting the line when he needed it. Cheyenne Hollywood was a best-of-the-rest third, more than five lengths behind. Image Of Dawn (Steve Smith), last week’s winner and this week’s slight 2-1 favorite, and Absolut Hall (Pat Berry) rounded out the payees.

For Rare Jewel, a 6-year-old Artiscape gelding owned by Norman Vartanian, it was his eighth win in 30 ’07 tries. He returned $15.20 as the co-fourth choice, leading a $95 exacta and $1,030 triple.