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

Yonkers, NY — Odds-on favorite Sapphire City (Brent Holland) lasted on a windy lead Saturday night (Nov. 24), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $35,000 Open Handicap Pace.

Assigned post position four, Sapphire City eschewed an early seat behind Eighteen (Mark MacDonald), instead making the lead before a :26.4 quarter-mile.

Justin Grasso photo

Sapphire City was a 1:52.1 winner in the Open Handicap Pace.

From there, it was a :56.1 intermission before eight hole ordered Great Vintage (George Brennan) — who tucked in fifth — was on the prowl. He engaged the leader through a :27.3 third quarter (1:23.4) before giving way.

Sapphire City was then able to steal a couple of lengths in and out of the final turn, and he’d need them. Eighteen closed ranks in the pocket, while the invading millionaire Annieswesterncard (Yannick Gingras) moved from second-over.

However, it was all-age track record holder Sapphire City finishing what he started, prevailing by a diminishing half-length in 1:52.1. Annieswesterncard snatched second over Eighteen, with Hypnotist (Larry Stalbaum) and Mainland Key N (Eric Goodell) settling for the small change.

Sapphire City, a 4-year-old Metropolitan gelding trained by Paul Blumenfeld for co-owners Centaur Stable and Jordan Sklut, returned $3.20 for his 10th win in 36 seasonal starts. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $11.40, with the triple returning $102.

Saturday props also to the 13-year-old gelding Forest Vic A (Steve Smith), who closed from last to win the $24,000 11th race pace (1:55.2) at a healthy $93.50 mutuel. It was his 47th career victory.