Post positions have been drawn for Saturday’s $1.8 million New York Night of Champions, as Yonkers Raceway will again host the Empire State’s richest night of racing.
Eight, $225,000 New York Sire Stakes finals, each sponsored by a prominent breeding farm, will feature the best two and three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.
Quick overviews of the divisions appear below. The NYSS finals have been carded as the first eight dashes on the 13-race program. First-race post time is the usual 7:10 p.m.
Race 1 – Winbak Farm Two-Year-Old Filly Pace – These races aren’t handicapped, but this one certainly appears that way. Planet Rock (Tim Tetrick, Post 7) and the late-starting Tequila Monday (David Miller, Post 8) are arguably the best the class have to offer, with the latter setting the local track record (1:53.1) for frosh lasses. Roaring To Go (Brett Miller, Post 5) was a 1:53.2 winner at Yonkers.
Race 2 – Allerage Farm Three-Year-Old Filly Trot – Last season’s division champ, Non Stick (Ake Svanstedt, Post 2), has enjoyed another solid summer, though she does enter off a break in her latest try. Fad Finance (Jim Morrill Jr., Post 5) has hit the board in 10 of her 11 seasonal starts. Both of these ladies have earned more than $200,000 this season.
Race 3 – Genesee Valley Farm Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace – Funknwaffles (Jim Morrill Jr., Post 4) has been nearly perfect, with seven wins and a second in eight tries ($144,784), while Miso Fast (Matt Kakaley, Post 2) is 5-for-7 (both are 2-for-2 at Yonkers). Pointomygranson (Marcus Miller, Post 8) has a pair of open-length wins leading to this race.
Race 4 – Majestic View Farms International Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot – Julie and Andy Miller have a potent pair in Devious Man (Andy Miller, Post 4) and Money MacIntosh (Brian Sears, Post 7), a combined 9-for-17 this season. Despite common ownership, they will be uncoupled in the wagering for the Saturday tilt. Zacks Zoomer (Marcus Miller, Post 5) has a win and a pair off seconds since adding hopples.
Race 5 – Cameo Hills Farm Three-Year-Old Filly Pace – As evenly-matched a final as the Night of Champions offers, with Wishy Washy Girl (Morrill Jr., Post 4) the one entering off a win. Last season’s frosh champ, Dime A Dance (Matt Kakaley, Post 5), has 10 on-the-board finishes in her dozen seasonal tries, while Soft Idea (Scott Zeron, Post 3) has a pair of wins at Yonkers.
Race 6 – Crawford Farms Two-Year-Old Filly Trot – Division points leader Mamora Bay (Sam Schillaci, Post 5) has finished on the board all season (8 starts, 5 wins [2 at Yonkers], 2 seconds, 1 third), Barn Bella (Jeff Gregory, Post 3), who was scratched ‘sick’ in her last scheduled start (which was at Yonkers), is 5-for-8 and won her last three races in ‘open-distance’ fashion. Amber Ella (John Campbell, Post 8) has learned her job lately, having won her last four tries.
Race 7 – Blue Chip Farms Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace – Art Rooney Pace winner Missile J (Tim Tetrick, Post 3), who was unraced at age two, enters 8-for-18 with more than $313,000 in purse earnings. Roll Away Joe (Jim Morrill Jr., Post 5) has banked more than $200,000, stringing together four consecutive wins at one point. Manny (Brett Miller, Post 6) gets a barn change entering the final.
Race 8 – Morrisville College Equine Institute Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot – Yonkers Trot runner-up Smalltownthrowdown (Dan Daley, Post 2) blitzed his state-bred rivals at Yonkers in his subsequent start. He has six wins and more than $333,000 in purses this season, Dante (Ake Svanstedt, Post 4) has been consistent this season (9 wins, 4 wins, 3 seconds), while Dayson (Brian Sears, Post 8) is 8-for-13 this summer, though he broke stride at Yonkers in his latest appearance.
(Yonkers Raceway)