Post positions were drawn Tuesday for Saturday's $1.8-million New York Night of Champions at Yonkers Raceway.
Eight, $225,000 divisional finals - for two and three-year-old of both sexes and gaits - comprise the richest night of racing in the state. The events will be contested as Races 2 through 9 as part of Yonkers Raceway's 13-race card, with first post at the customary 7:10 p.m.
The 23rd edition of the Night of Champions again has each of the races sponsored by a prominent Empire breeding farm or ownership group.
Here’s an overview of the finals:
Race 2 - Crawford Farms Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
Divisional points leader Tirade Hanover drew well (Brian Sears, Post 2) as he goes after a fifth consecutive victory. Company comes in the form of pylon-sitting Fashion Blizzard (Jim Morrill, Jr.) and Royalty For Life (Jason Bartlett, Post 5), both, like Tirade Hanover, six-figure summer earners.
Race 3 - Morrisville College Equine Institute Two-Year-Old Filly Trot
Barn Babe led all lasses during the season, but needed better friends with the open draw. John Cummings, Jr. joins her behind the eight-ball. They have their work cut out, what with Lady Riviera (Morrill, Jr., Post 1), four-wins-in-a-row You Want Me (Tim Tetrick, Post 2) and Isabella Gal (Sean Bier, Post 6) all in the competitive mix.
Race 4 - Winbak Farm Two-Year-Old Filly Pace
Summertime Lea (Morrill Jr., Post 2), she of the 7-for-8 resume and more than $182,000 this far this season, is joined as a Ron Burke-trained entry with Silk Pajamas (Sears, Post 8). Give Me an Amen (Tetrick, Post 6) and Freetime (Andy Miller, Post 7) have each won half of their eight seasonal starts.
Race 5 - Cameo Hills Farm Three-Year-Old Filly Pace
Defending sire stakes champ Handsoffmycookie (Tetrick, Post 2) and Romantic Moment (Sears, Post 6) shared the clubhouse lead in points during the summer. Handsoffmycookie has never lost here (6-for-6) and becomes a career millionairess with a victory, while Romantic Moment enters with three consecutive wins, including the $350,000 Valley Forge down in Philly. Major Look (Miller, Post 1) has seven wins and upwards of $264,000 to her credit this season.
Race 6 - Kenneth J Syndicate LLC Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
Trainer Linda Toscano offers up a three-headed monster in points leader Doctor Butch (Tetrick, Post 3), Swift As A Shadow (Morrill, Jr., Post 6) and Deny Deny Deny (Morrill, Jr. also listed, Post 8). Doctor Butch has seven wins and three seconds in 10 seasonal starts, and is the fastest (1:52 at Tioga) and richest ($210,024) member of this subsection.
Race 7 - Stirling Brook Farms Three-Year-Old Filly Trot
Millionairess Win Missy B (Sears, Post 4) had never sniffed a small track before her last start, and all she did was obliterate the local track standard (1:54.4) for this group. Cowgirl Hall (Morrill, Jr., Post 3) and Fortunista (George Brennan, Post 7) each have six wins on their seasonal resume, while Kristins Victory (Steve Smith, Post 1) and '11 frosh champ For A Dancer (Jeff Gregory, Post 6) have also enjoyed much success.
Race 8 - Allerage Farm Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
Archangel, he of Yonkers Trot, world record and all-age track-record-matching fame (1:54.1), outdrew no one here. With 10 wins and a pair of seconds ($714,236) in 14 seasonal starts (including 5-for-5 in sires), he's the obvious horse to beat despite the impost. Morrill, Jr. takes his regular seat. Brookroad Knight (Gregory, Post 2), Mado Dream (Brennan, Post 5) and Coraggioso (Sears, Post 6) all enter sharp as well.
Race 9 - Blue Chip Farms Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
Defending NYSS champ Heston Blue Chip (Tetrick, Post 6) is 20-for-24 lifetime, including 9-for-11 this season and 4-for-4 in sire stakes company. While he's spent time outside of the Empire, Forever Just (Gregory, Post 7) tackled the Thruway and was the points leader. Major Bombay (Morrill, Jr., Post 1) is also entered in Thursday's Little Brown Jug, while Joe Pavia, Jr. as trainer has a pair in Steelhead Hanover (Sears, Post 4) and Bet On The Law (Morrill, Jr. also listed, Post 5).
(Yonkers Raceway)