Stage Set For New York Night Of Champions
Post positions have been drawn for Saturday's $1.6 million New York Night of Champions, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the richest night of racing in the state
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Eight, $200,000 sire stakes finals for two and three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits comprise the 21st edition of the Empire State's showcase event.
The finales go as races 3 through 10 on the 13-race card, with first post at the customary 7:10 p.m. There is also the ever-popular T-shirt giveaway, while supplies last.
The events will be carded as follows:
Race 3 - Two-year-old pacing fillies
Race 4 - Two-year-old trotting fillies
Race 5 - Three-year-old trotting fillies
Race 6- Two-year-old pacing colts and geldings
Race 7 - Three-year-old pacing fillies
Race 8 - Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings
Race 9 - Three-year-old trotting colts and geldings
Race 10 - Three-year-old pacing colts and geldings
The precociously perfect Jezzy goes after an 11th consecutive victory in the frosh trotting filly event. The daughter of Credit Winner drew Post 2 and leads a three-headed pari-mutuel partnership. Ray Schnittker, who doubles are co-owner/trainer, takes his usual seat.
Jezzy, a daughter of Credit Winner also co-owned by Jeff Gural (breeder as Little E LLC), Ted Gewertz and Jerry Silva, has earned in excess of $213,000 the summer.
In theory, anyone can attract one Perfect 10, but two on the same night?
May we present See You At Peelers, who drew Post 4 in the rookie pacing filly event. Jim Morrill, Jr. has the assignment. See You At Peelers, a Bettors Delight miss trained by Jimmy Takter for his wife, Christina, and John & Jim Fielding, has banked upwards of $169,000.
Track record-holder (1:54.2) City Delight is the next-door neighbour in Post 5, with Jason Bartlett driving for trainer Pail Kelley.
The sophomore quartet finds all of last season's divisional champs going after repeats.
Munis Blue Chip (Schnittker) and Hulas Z Tam (Pat Lachance) were done no favours by the draw master, with each sequestered behind the eight-ball in their respective (three-year-old trotting and three-year-old pacing filly) events.
Hes Gorgeous (Morrill, Jr.) drew Post 3 in the glamour gang finale for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, while Blacktuxwhitesocks (Jeff Gregory) landed Post 4 in the soph trotting colt/gelding event. Those two are a combined 27-for-45 with earnings in excess of $836,000.
Gregory and Dejarmbro (Post 3) figure prominently in the frosh trotting colt/gelding event, as does Lachance with Sir Ziggys Z Tam (Post 4) in a well-matched finale for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
(Yonkers Raceway)