Sapphire City, driven Brent Holland, went the distance Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $44,000 Open Handicap Pace.
In a hurry from post position No. 2, Sapphire City pocketed longshot Bettor Design (Larry Stalbaum) before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile. From there, he rated a :29-second next stanza (:56.2 half) before Nob Hill High (Jordan Stratton) moved from fourth.
Sapphire City had things his own way in and out of the 1:24.2 three-quarters, taking a two and a half-length lead into the lane. He finished his night's work winning by three lengths in 1:52. Nob Hill High photoed Bettor Design for second, with River Shark (Eric Goodell) and slight 2-1 choice Hypnotist (Cat Manzi) grabbing the small change.
For Sapphire City, a four-year-old Metropolitan gelding trained by Paul Blumenfeld for co-owners Centaur Stable and Jordan Sklut, he returned $8.70 (fifth choice) for his seventh win in 18 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $75.70, with the triple returning $541.
Special Saturday props to True Desire (Stalbaum), whose 53-1 upset ($109) from the eight-hole in the $26,500, ninth-race pace was the highest local win mutuel of the season.
(Yonkers Raceway)