The big Yonkers Raceway news Saturday night was that Real Nice won the featured $48,000 Open Handicap Pace
. The bigger news might have been that Jason Bartlett wasn't sitting behind him...but more about that factoid in a bit.
Real Nice (Brent Holland), Dave Aint Here (Stephane Bouchard) and Eagle Real One (Jeff Gregory)--assigned the three inside post positions in descending order--led the parade.
Real Nice watched early as Eagle Real One hung both Toucan Sam (Bartlett) and 3-5 choice Four Trumps A (Larry Stalbaum) through a :27.4 opening quarter-mile.
The favourite eventually made the lead before a :55.3 intermission, but those in behind couldn't wait to get out. With Toucan Sam finishing his Froot Loops and going home before a 1:24.1 three-quarters, Eagle Real One, Dave Aint Here and Real Nice all vacated the cones.
Eagle Real One owned a short lead into the lane, but Real Nice powered on by. He won by a length-and-a-half in 1:52.3, matching a season's best. "Dave" snapped second over Eagle Real One with Pandoras Sox (Billy Dobson) and King Cat Anvil N (Jordan Stratton) completing the cashers.
For Real Nice, a four-year-old Real Artist gelding trained by Matt Medeiros for co-owners Gary and Beverly Paganelli, he returned $14.20 (third choice) for his ninth win in 26 seasonal starts (second Open Handicap win in last three tries). The exacta paid $95.50, with the triple returning $338.50.
Now, back to Bartlett. The Raceway's leading driver, who won seven races Thursday night and three Friday night, had five victories during this night's 13-race extravaganza. He authored his own personal, $88 Pick-3 by winning Races 2, 3 and 4.
Bartlett, who had nary a race off, then added victories in Races 6 and 7 before being shut out in his final half-dozen drives.
Saturday night's ninth race saw the highest triple return of the season--$21,437--led by 66-1 Eckstrom (Jim Pantaleano, $134.50) and a 7-8-4 combination.
(Yonkers Raceway)