by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers’ 2010 stakes season gets underway this weekend, with the opening round of the Hopeful Pacing Series for 3-year-olds.

Friday night (Feb. 19) will see three $10,000 divisions for fillies go postward, while the colts and geldings do battle in five $10,000 groupings Saturday night (Feb. 20).

The series is open to those who were non-winners of two races and/or $20,000 through this past Dec. 1.

As Saturday night features go, Yonkers’ $32,000 Open Handicap Pace came up more intriguing than most. The seventh race offers several solid storylines, and a case can be made for any one of the eight entrants getting his picture taken.

Local “bully” Dave Ain’t Here (Jim Pantaleano, post 4) goes for a fourth consecutive weekly pacing feature. The 9-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding, owned and trained by Ettore Annunziata, is 4-for-7 this season, one win shy of his entire victory total (in 28 starts) from a season ago. He’s proven versatile, winning twice on the lead and once from well off the pace. However, he hasn’t convinced the public quite yet, getting away at odds of 10-1, 20-1 and 9-2 in the last three starts.

Dontgetbyme (Jordan Stratton, post 7) has worked his way up to the adult table in search of a seventh consecutive victory. The 5-year-old Dontgetinmyway gelding, trained by Julie Miller for Mack Racing, is 5-for-5 since hitting town — four in sub-1:55 — while rising from the lower conditioned ranks.

Corky Baran (Brent Holland, post 8) crosses the river after a pair of wins in Meadowlands Invitationals and is board-certified in all six seasonal starts. Jean Drolet trains the 7-year-old Rambaran gelding for owner Stephen Schneider.

Special Report (Larry Stalbaum, post 2) and his $1.4 million career bankroll makes his seasonal debut. The 8-year-old Keystone Raider gelding, owned by Hugo Iodide and trained by Kim Asher, is prepping for next month’s start of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series (he won the ’08 edition).

Image Of Dawn (Pat Lachance, post 1), Southwind Tabor (Greg Merton, post 3), Smellthecolornine (Jason Bartlett, post 5) and Legal Litigator (Cat Manzi, post 6) complete the well-matched octet.