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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

YONKERS PREPPING FOR SIX CONSECTIVE PROGRAMS

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

            YONKERS, NY, Wednesday, February 18, 2015—File this under “No Rest for the Weary.”

Beginning Thursday evening, Yonkers Raceway shall race six consecutive days…Mother Nature permitting.

Thursday (first post 7:10 PM) – 12 races and some free money ($1,307.06, to be exact) as carryover into the Pick 5 (50-cent base wager, races 7 through 11).

Friday (first post 7:10 PM) – 12 races, with a $35,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace (6th race).

Saturday (first post 7:10 PM) – 12 races, with a $35,000 Open Pace (6th race) and the last three (count ‘em, three) previous winners of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series dotting the card. Atochia (2012 winner) drew post position No. 4 in the fifth race, with Matt Kakaley driving. Razzle Dazzle (Eric Carlson), who won the 2013 edition, wound up behind the eight-ball in the eighth race and last season’s champ, P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett) landed post No. 6 in the 10th race.  

In keeping with that theme, 2011 Levy winner Real Nice (Kakaley) landed the pylons in Friday’s ninth race.

Sunday (first post 12:10 PM) – a French-themed 12 races, with the first seven featuring oversized trotting fields (12, 12, 10, 10, 10, 10 and 10 horses, respectively). Including is the $46,000 Open Handicap Trot (3rd race),  with the formful Not Afraid (Dan Dube, post 8) looking for a fourth win in six seasonal starts. Note that after a dark Sunday next week, live racing is scheduled for March 8 and 15.

Monday (first post 7:10 PM) – 11 races, including a $10,000 guaranteed pool Pick 5 (races 7 through 11), with program pages available (after finalized) at www.yonkersraceway.com.

Tuesday (first post 1 PM) – card to be drawn Thursday (Feb. 19).