Yonkers, NY — The ninth race Monday night (Nov. 16) at Yonkers Raceway showcases a deep field of younger pacers comprised of Grand Circuit performers and local standouts. The $18,000 featured pace is for 3- , 4- and 5-year-old colts, horses, and geldings who are non-winners of eight pari-mutuel races or $100,000. The race will close out the evening’s Pick-5 wager, which begins in race five and features a $7,500 guaranteed pool and free past performances.

Although not a handicap, the draw shook out that way as the 5-2 morning line favorite Save Me A Dance landed post position eight. A 3-year-old colt by Heston Blue Chip, Save Me A Dance is a homebred for Robert Key out of the Real Artist mare Dance Hall Girl. The most accomplished in the field, Save Me A Dance sports earnings of $246,191 from four victories and another 10 placings in 22 starts.

Save Me A Dance won an elimination of the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace here at 2 before finishing second in the $120,250 final. He also made the New York Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings and won a $49,700 division of the Simpson at Harrah’s Philadelphia last October.

This year, Save Me A Dance competed on the NYSS circuit, finishing second in four legs and third in another to make the final for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings. He also competed in the Empire Breeders Classic final in August, finished third in a division of the Bluegrass at 71-1 at the Red Mile Oct. 4, and finished fourth in a Tattersalls division, a Breeders Crown elimination, and the $500,000 Breeders Crown final. In his last four starts, Save Me A Dance has paced sub-1:49, with a 1:48 clocking in the Bluegrass.

Save Me A Dance will be driven by Jason Bartlett as the colt looks for his first victory since taking a $13,500 overnight at The Meadowlands June 13. Save Me A Dance is trained by Andrew Harris.

Tito Rocks streaks into this race off four consecutive victories. He won an $11,200 overnight at Harrah’s Philadelphia Oct. 4, repeated at Harrah’s Oct. 14 in the $31,300 Liberty Bell Pace, took the $33,067 Simpson at Harrah’s Philadelphia Oct. 28, and captured a $10,000 overnight in the conditioned pacing ranks last out at Pocono Nov. 7.

A 3-year-old gelding by Sweet Lout of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Ticket To Rock, Tito Rocks went 0-for-5 last year, but improved to 6-for-16 with another five placings this season. He won a leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in July and placed in another leg to earn a spot in the $252,000 PASS championship this September.

Tyler Buter, who drove Tito Rocks in his last win at Pocono, will drive again Monday night. The pair will start from post seven and are 7-2 on the morning line for trainer Robert Cleary and owner Royal Wire Products Inc.

Ohio-bred 3-year-old gelding Epic Ace will make his second local appearance after going off-stride from post seven here Nov. 9. Before that mishap, the Western Vintage son earned six wins and another nine placings to the tune of $80,506 in the Midwest, racing primarily on the Ohio fair circuit for trainer Mike Polhamus. Now owned by Jesmeral Stable and in the barn of Donald Sider, Epic Ace will start from post one Monday night with Jim Marohn Jr. in the sulky. He is 7-1 on the morning line.

The field also includes three local winners in Caviart Rockland, Globaldomination N, and Ehrmantraut.

Caviart Rockland is a rare Yonkers starter for trainer Nancy Takter and is bred and owned by Caviart Farms. The 4-year-old Sportswriter gelding sports a local record of 8-3-3-0 after scoring two wins here last fall and another in a 23-1, wire-to-wire upset Oct. 5, 2020. Last time out here Nov. 2, Caviart Rockland finished second after leaving to set the pace from post seven. He drew favorably in post two Monday night and will be driven by Joe Bongiorno.

Globaldomination N is a five-time Yonkers winner for Peter Tritton, Vonknobloauch Stable, and Jordan Stratton, but is winless in eight starts since Aug. 24, in which the 5-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding took a 1:52 lifetime mark. He drew post three Monday night.

Ehrmantraut has won three races for new trainer Deborah Daguet. The 4-year-old Somebeachsomewhere son overcame post eight Sept. 21, repeated while up in class Sept. 28, and dead-heated with Mark Witha K Oct. 12. Most recently, Ehrmantraut was third in this class Nov. 9. George Brennan will drive the Lawrence Keethe and John Darrah homebred from post four Monday night.

Its A Marcs World, who dominated in the Minnesota-bred stakes this summer for Jessica Johnson and the Rolands before shipping east to Rob Harmon mid-October, and Motive Hanover, a 15-time winner for Mark Ford, complete the lineup.

Yonkers Raceway features live harness racing Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights through Dec. 22. First post time is 7:12 p.m.