by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — For the first time since its inception in 1990, the annual New York Night of Champions is a plural, as in a two-fer. Saturday night (Sept. 12), the Empire’s best 3-year-olds have the marquee, with Yonkers Raceway hosting four $225,000 Sire Stakes finals.

The NYSS events, each sponsored by a prominent breeding farm, go as races five through eight on the dozen-race card, with the usual first post of 7:10 p.m.

A quick, hot-off-the-presses look at the quartet:

Fifth Race (Majestic View Farms Filly Trot): Barn Doll (Jeff Gregory, post six) looks to repeat as divisional champ. This season’s points leader has been ultra-consistent, as in 10-for-12 this season ($352,863) and 17-for-21 lifetime. The daughter of Conway Hall, co-owned and trained by Steve Pratt, enters off a blowout win here earlier this month.

Jewels In Hock (Jim Morrill Jr., post four), one of a select few who knocked off Barn Doll, enters winning half of her 16 ’15 tries ($241,496). Lady Winona (Brian Sears, post seven) is the stronger lass in the Julie Miller-trained entry.

Sixth Race (Cameo Hill Farm Filly Pace): Bettorhaveanother (George Brennan, post three), Band Of Angels (Matt Kakaley, post eight) and defending champ Mosquito Blue Chip (Morrill Jr., post seven) have all enjoyed the summer, though Mosquito Blue Chip did make an uncharacteristic break here in her latest try.

Bedroomconfessions (Sears, post six) enters as hot as any of these, with three wins in her last four tries.

Seventh Race (Morrisville College Equine Institute Colt/Gelding Trot): Is there anything Yonkers Trot winner Habitat (Morrill Jr., post three) can do for an encore? A career millionaire off his open length win this past Saturday, the son of Conway Hall gets another look at Trot finalists Buen Camino (driver TBA, post one) and Workout Wonder (Dan Dube, post six).

Royal Deceptor (Mickey McGivern, post five) and Wings Of Royalty (Sears, post seven) have both had productive seasons.

Eighth Race (Blue Chips Farms Colt/Gelding Pace): Artistic Major (Morrill Jr., post three), the leader in the clubhouse, has some talented foes in Betting Exchange (Jason Bartlett, post five) and National Seelster (Andy Miller, post seven), among others.

The Raceway hosts New York Night of Champions (Part II) — four $225,000 Sire Stakes finals for 2-year-olds — Saturday night (Sept. 26).