Yonkers

Looking for September Harness? Here is a link for some info on her.

September 18, 2003

Posts drawn for New York's Night of Champions at Yonkers

-- by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY --- Post positions were drawn on Wednesday for this Saturday night's $1.2 million New York Night of Champions at Yonkers Raceway.

The 14th edition of the Night of Champions, richest night of racing in the state, again features eight, $150,000 divisional finals for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and on both gaits. First post is the usual 7:40 p.m. (EDT).

Among the notables-and their starting spots-are Miss Gibbons, the standout 3-year-old trotting filly, drew post number one for owner, trainer and driver Howard Gill. The daughter of Giant Hit has won 13-of-15 starts ($109366) this year and enters the final with a seven race winning streak.

Omega Angel, the track record holder for 2-year-old trotting geldings, landed post number eight for driver Scott Mongeon. The son of Sir Taurus, who has earned $59,270, totes a six race winning streak into the final and is five-for-five in the New York Sire Stakes.

Iroquoindiangiver, last year's frosh division champ, and Fifty Two Finn drew next to one another (posts four and five) in the 3-year-old colt and gelding trot. The two have combined for 14 wins in 23 starts and nearly $165,000 won this year. Leading New York Sire Stakes driver Wally Hennessey, the regular escort for both, was scheduled to make his final choice on Thursday.

Brando Blue Chip, a stellar 3-year-old pacing colt with career earnings in excess of $300,000, landed post number five with Stephane Bouchard driving. The Sealed N Delivered colt was the easiest of winners here in last week's final sire stakes preliminary.

Stolen Magic, the ultra-consistent 3-year-old pacing filly, drew post number three for trainer-driver Joe Pavia, Jr. The daughter of Magical Mike has won seven of her dozen starts this year and is two-for-two at Yonkers, including a current four race winning streak, all in sire stakes. She looks to add to her $94,532 bank balance of 2003.

The finals, going as races four through 11 on the program, are, as always, sponsored by prominent New York breeding farms:

Fourth Race - The Morrisville College Equine Institute 2-Year-Old Filly Trot

Fifth Race - The Paradise Farms 2-Year-Old Filly Pace

Sixth Race - The Crawford Farm 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot

Seventh Race - The Avon Farms 3-Year-Old Filly Trot

Eighth Race - The Cameo Hills Farm 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace

Ninth Race - The Little Farm 3-Year-Old Filly Pace

10th Race - The Rodney Farms 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot

11th Race - The Blue Chip Farms 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace

For more information on the multi-million-dollar New York Sire Stakes program, which also includes the late-closer and county fair events, please contact the Harness Horse Breeders of New York at (518) 434-1264, or visit them online at www.nysirestakes.com.

The Raceway currently features live racing Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, at 7:40 p.m. (EDT).

Evening harness and Thoroughbred simulcasting will accompany all live programs and afternoon simulcasting continues around the New York Racing Association schedule.

Yonkers also offers free admission every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights, and the Raceway continues to offer free admission and general parking for its afternoon simulcasts.

September's harness simulcast schedule includes signals imported from Balmoral Park, Batavia Downs, Freehold Raceway, Harrington Raceway, Hazel Park, Indiana Downs, Maywood Park, the Meadows, Monticello Raceway, Northfield Park, Ocean Downs. Pocono Downs, Raceway Park, Rosecroft Raceway, Saratoga Raceway, Scioto Downs, and Vernon Downs.

For more information, or to obtain a calendar, please contact the Raceway at (914) 968-4200.

Click here for Paul-John Ramos with Yannick Gingras

Yahoo Yannick

By Frank Drucker YONKERS, NY -- Yannick Gingras drove six winners Monday night (Aug. 25) at Yonkers Raceway, his second six-bagger in the last three racing programs.

Gingras, who won six races (from 10 drives) Friday night, threw out another happy half-dozen on Yonkers' 11-race Monday card.

Gingras swept the $22.20 early daily double with Warrawaee Comet ($3.30) in the first race and the trotter Leader Of The Peak ($18.20) in the second race.

After a two-race winner's circle hiatus, he captured the fifth race with Roxy's Shadow ($3.10) for that pacer's third consecutive victory.

The two-year-old pacing filly Feminine Ways ($5.20) whipped her elders to win the seventh race with Gingras as her escort. He then guided the red-hot Direct Order ($3.70) to a third consecutive victory in the ninth race before winning the nightcap behind Billy Concarney ($5.10).

Gingras, who drove in all 11 races Monday, is currently second (to Stephane Bouchard) in the summer meet driver standings with 50 winners. He was sidelined for several weeks while recovering from a broken collarbone.

Yonkers Trot Draw

Yonkers, NY --- Hambletonian runner-up Sugar Trader on Wednesday drew post four and was made the 9-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's $337,229 Yonkers Trot, the second jewel in trotting's Triple Crown, at Yonkers Raceway in New York. Trained by John Brennan and driven by Catello Manzi to victory in his Aug. 16 Trot elimination, Sugar Trader has won four of nine starts this year and earned $355,632. Sugar Trader is owned by Brennan, John Nordstrom of Lloyd Harbor, N.Y., and John Taddeo of Bayshore, N.Y.

The Yonkers Trot, in its 49th year, is carded as Race 7 with a 10 p.m. post time. Amigo Hall, the 27-1 winner of the Hambletonian, the Triple Crown's first leg, was not entered in the Yonkers Trot.

"I've raced her my whole life," said Brennan, who was born in New York City and now lives in Little Ferry, N.J. "I'm still a New Yorker. I was born and raised in New York. I've raced at Roosevelt, Yonkers, Saratoga, all over New York. Forget about winning the Yonkers Trot, I'm just thrilled to be in it, yet alone have the favorite. After I trained [Sugar Trader] this morning I made a few changes. I took his head up a few holes and I added a burr head pole inside. Cat said he was good Saturday, but he likes to lean in the turns."

Mac's Crown K, who was third in the Hambletonian, drew post three and was made the 5-2 second choice. Mac's Crown K has won five of 14 starts this year and earned $321,461 for owner Robert Key of Leechburg, Pa, and trainer Charlie Norris. Key won the 1993 Yonkers Trot with American Winner, driven by Ron Pierce. American Winner won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, but finished second to Pine Chip in the first heat of the Kentucky Futurity, the final jewel in the Crown, and then went off stride in the second heat. Wally Hennessey drove Mac's Crown K to victory in his Trot elimination last Saturday.

Manzi won the 1994 Yonkers Trot with Bullville Victory. Hennessey has never won the Yonkers Trot. However, the last three editions of the Trot have been won by first-time winners -- Jeff Gregory with Bubba Dunn in 2002, Trevor Ritchie with Banker Hall in 2001, and Jacqueline Ingrassia with Goalfish in 2000. With her win, Ingrassia became the only female driver to ever win a Triple Crown race.

The last horse to win the trotting Triple Crown was Super Bowl in 1972; the first of the six Triple Crown winners was Scott Frost in 1955. The final leg of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Futurity, is Sept. 27 at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky.

Following is the Yonkers Trot field in post position order:

Post, Horse, Driver, Trainer, Odds

1 Ben Him, S. Bouchard, K. Crawford, 10-1

2 Incredible Hulk, TBA, C. Sylvester, 5-1

3 Mac's Crown K, W. Hennessey, C. Norris, 5-2

4 Sugar Trader, C. Manzi, J. Brennan, 9-5

5 Ringside Devil, Y. Gingras, B. Vandervort Jr., 20-1

6 Solicitor Hanover, J. Gregory, B. Riegle, 6-1

7 On Tour, R. Schnittker, P. Doherty, 12-1

8 Twocarlane, J. Gregory, P. Lachance, 15-1

Beckwith, Fusco Win 2002 Driver, Trainer Titles

January 2, 2003 -- by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Yonkers Raceway

Mark Beckwith and Carmine Fusco continued their consistency in 2002, winning Yonkers Raceway's driver and trainer titles, respectively.

The 2002 season, which ended this past Monday night, Dec. 30, saw the 36-year-old Beckwith escort home 385 winners from 2036 starters (18.9 percent). It was the first year-end title for the Lawrence, MA, native, whose $1,999,468 in purses ranked third among the driving colony.

Stephane Bouchard, who had won the last two dash titles, finished second in '02 with 370 winners, while Jeff Gregory (264), Yannick Gingras (262) and Jay Randall (138) rounded out the Top 5.

Bouchard's $2,289,776 in purse money led all drivers, edging Gregory's $2,272,076.

Fusco, 38, earned the training title, sending out 153 winners among his 774 starters (19.7 percent). He won a protracted battle with last year's champ, Tim Case, who ended '02 with 149 winners. Fusco also led in earnings with $780,416.

Mike Caruselle (113 winners), Joe Guarino (98) and Brian Horlacher (78) completed the trainer's upper echelon.

The end of 2002 also brought with it the end of the fall meet. The photo-finish camera could not separate Bouchard and Gingras, both whom ended with 100 victories to share meet driving honors.

Bouchard's $559,913 led the purse parade, while Gingras was second with $507,292.

Caruselle used a late surge to grab the fall meet training title with 35 victories. Fusco (33), Dennis Laterza (32), Case (31) and Horlacher (17) completed the top five.

Yonkers' 2003 racing season begins tonight (Jan. 2). For the vast majority of the year, the Raceway offers a five-night-per-week live harness schedule, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:40 PM.

The Raceway's multi-million-dollar 2003 stakes schedule is to be released shortly. (Yonkers' 2002 year/fall meet leaders accompany this release)

YONKERS RACEWAY 2002 FINAL DRIVER STANDINGS (1/3/02-12/30/02)

NO. DRIVER STS 1ST 2ND 3rd WIN% PURSE

1. Mark Beckwith 2036 385 324 274 18.9 $1,999,468

2. Stephane Bouchard 1620 370 293 204 22.8 $2,289,776

3. Jeff Gregory 1502 264 232 236 17.5 $2,272,076

4. Yannick Gingras. 1707 262 263 246 15.3 $1,535,252

5. Jay Randall 967 138 129 138 14.2 $ 948,305

YONKERS RACEWAY 2002 FINAL TRAINER STANDINGS (1/3/02-12/30/02)

NO. TRAINER STS 1ST 2ND 3rd WIN% PURSE

1. Carmine Fusco 774 153 116 88 19.7 $ 780,416

2. Tim Case 793 149 136 103 18.7 $ 749,287

3. Mike Caruselle 836 113 123 92 13.5 $ 541,427

4. Joe Guarino 658 98 91 106 14.8 $ 593,591

5. Brian Horlacher 422 78 75 48 18.4 $ 407.977

YONKERS '02 FINAL FALL DRIVER STANDINGS (10/1/02-12/30/02)

NO. DRIVER STS 1ST 2ND 3rd WIN% PURSE

1t. Stephane Bouchard 486 100 96. 67 20.5 $ 559,913

1t. Yannick Gingras 482 100 72 71 20.7 $ 507,292

3. Mark Beckwith 499 84 72 76 16.8 $ 472,617

4. Ross Wolfenden 366 62 47 58 14.1 $ 339.041

5. Jeff Gregory 343 51 59 61 14.8 $ 320,690

YONKERS '02 FINAL FALL TRAINER STANDINGS (10/1/02-12/30/02)

NO. TRAINER STS 1ST 2ND 3rd WIN% PURSE

1. Mike Caruselle 222 35 34 21 15.7 $ 177,407

2. Carmine Fusco 204 33 26 21 16.1 $ 153,066

3. Dennis Laterza 176 32 16 24 18.1 $ 142,205

4. Tim Case 200 31 36 32 15.5 $ 174,940

5. Brian Horlacher 109 17 13 12 15.6 $ 110,142

Electrifying Performances at Yonkers

May 7, 2002 -- by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY --- The first week in May at Yonkers Raceway saw electrifying performances from Impish Princess A and Life Sizzles.

Saturday night’s (May 4) pair of $15,000 Open Handicap Paces found the Princess and Life Sizzles both continuing their conquests.

Impish Princess A and driver Jay Randall made it two straight in the distaff feature, again holding off Ru Girl (Stephane Bouchard) in what amounted to a match race for the last three-eighths. The margin was three-quarters of a length, with the mile and one-sixteenth going in 2:022. Chip and Gale A (Carl Cito, Jr.) was the best of the rest, ten lengths further back in third. Big Bad Girl (Jeff Gregory) and Sammie Big Girl (John Wentworth III) completed the cashers.

Impish Princess A, a seven-year-old Down Under daughter of Fake Left paid $7.30 for her fourth win in nine seasonal starts. Monico Stanislao trained the victress, who led a $15.80 exacta and $32 triple.

Life Sizzles, who began the season going 0-for-6, has loved life in Westchester County. He notched his fourth straight victory -- third straight in the Open ‘Cap -- this one with Billy Parker, Jr. as the chauffeur.

On the move passing a snappy: :264 opening panel, Life Sizzles took over soon thereafter. He led the field through a :56 second half and 1:251 third split, taking a two and a half length advantage off the final turn. He would need all of it, holding off Chad Lefleur (Jim Marshall III) by a desperate nose in 2:004 for the added distance (and you thought the Derby was the most exciting two minutes in sports). Royal Art (Yannick Gingras) was third, beaten a length and a quarter. The 7-5 favorite, Mumbo King (Bouchard), came first-up and faded to fourth, with Niarun (Gregory) earning the final pay envelope.

Life Sizzles, a four-year-old son of Life Sign trained by Robert Craft, paid $5.10 as the second choice. The exacta was worth $14, with the triple good for $58.50.

As for Friday’s (May 3) Open Handicap Trot, favored G V’s White Face (Bouchard) had the lead passing the three-quarter pole.

Then, a funny thing happen on the way to the finish line.

The lights surrounding the oval went out, and the judges subsequently declared the race a no contest. For the record, G V’s White Face crossed the line in front in 2:071, with the 15G distributed equally ($1,875 to all eight starters).

Please note that Yonkers Raceway is now offering a four night per week live racing schedule, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at 7:40 p.m. Thursday racing has been put on a temporary hiatus due to a horse storage.

Bonus Series Final Captured by Armbro Sensible

April 30, 2002 -- by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY --- The final weekend in April at Yonkers Raceway was highlighted by the final of the Yonkers/Standardbred Owners Association of New York Bonus Trotting Series.

Entering this past Friday’s $42,200 finale, it appeared that the road to pay dirt went through David Martin’s Madison’s Tuition, one of the two trotters to sweep his three preliminary legs of the series.

Sent off as the 2-5 choice from post position number two, Madison’s Tuition and regular driver Rick Farrington made the lead passing the :29 opening quarter. Rating along through a 1:001 middle half, Madison’s Tuition took a two length cushion off the final turn.

However, he picked the wrong night not to show his usual strong finish as John Feore’s Armbro Sensible (Stephanie Bouchard) and Great Thunder (Rejean Daigneault) ganged up on the favorite from both sides.

Armbro Sensible put his head ahead when it counted, just getting the better of 27-1 shot Great Thunder in a season’s best 2:002. Madison’s Tuition settled for third, beaten by a neck.

Armbro Sensible, a 6-year-old Super Pleasure gelding trained by Oliver Rose, Jr., entered the Bonus Trot series zero-for-2002, earning his spot in the final with a pair of preliminary wins. His third victory in 15 starts gave him a $21,100 payday, more than doubling his seasonal earnings.

The win was worth $14.80 as the second choice in the wagering, leading a $265 Exacta and $851 Triple. Little Man Fred (Jeff Gregory) and Kingston’s Alive (Jim Marshall III) earned the final two pay envelopes.

The three Bonus Trot Series Consolations, worth $8,000, $8,000, and $14,000, respectively, went to:

James Finnegan’s Pacific Pizzazz, age five (by Mr. Lavec), trained by Tim Case, driven by Stephane Bouchard, winning in 2:004, and paying $6.10;

Joseph Hess, Ed Mason, and Ed Schaffer’s Angel Alan, age five (by Valleymeister), trained by Bruce Lauer, driven by Jeff Gregory, winning in 2:011, and paying $5.40; and

David Cochrane’s Sent From Above, age five (by Earl), trained by Ralph Fenno, Jr., driven by Leigh Fitch, winning in l: 59. 4, and paying $10.20.

The weekly trio of $15,000 Open Handicaps were also on the schedule and were won by:

Joseph Muscara’s Impish Princess A (filly and mare pace), trained by Monico Stanislao, driven by Jay Randall, winning in 1:57, and paying $5.90;

Zdravo Maria Stable’s Life Sizzles (Open pace), trained by Robert Craft, driven by Jeff Gregory, winning in 1:54, and paying $3.80; and

Dean Davis and Brenda Sugg’s Blastaway Sahbra (Open trot), trained by Mark Ford, driven by Stephane Bouchard, winning in l:584, and paying $3.70.

In the latter event, Tomba N, who was to put his perfect eight-for-eight record in 2002 on the line was a judges’ scratch.

The Raceway was also the site of a milestone last week when the veteran trotter Another Blizzard made his 400th career start on Thursday night, April 25. The 13-year-old Lindy’s Crown gelding, with more than $887,000 in career earnings, finished sixth for owner, trainer, and driver Paul Minore.

Yonkers Raceway (YR1/2)

Located in Yonkers, New York at Central and Yonkers Aves.,

17 miles from Times Square. Accessible via Subways and

special buses. Central Ave. at the New York Thruway.

Address:

810 Central Avenue

Yonkers, New York 10704

Phone: (914) 968-4200

Results "Hotline:" (914) 976-8383

Fax Number: (914) 968-1121