by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s Thursday night (April 13) program was sponsored by the letter ‘S’.

‘S,’ as in Stratton, as in driver Jordan Stratton.

‘S,’ as in Siegelman, as in trainer Robbie Siegelman.

Darragh Riordan photo

Southern Pursuit N paid $126.50 to win on Thursday night.

‘S,” as in Southern Pursuit N, as in the 62-1 ($126.50) upsetter — driven by Stratton and trained by Siegelman — of the break-filled, $15,000 third race pace (life-best 1:55.1). The eight-hole bombardier led a $652 exacta and $2,308 triple, while ending a $5,393 Pick-3.

‘S’ also, as in Sears, as in season-debuting Brian Sears. The Hall of Famer in waiting made his first appearance since late last season after laser eye surgery. Sears went one-for-eight Thursday night, lasting on the lead with odds-on One Through Ten ($3.60) in the $25,000 11th race pace (1:53.2).

Sears has seven drives Friday (April 14) and six Saturday (April 15).

The Friday/Saturday cards feature the fifth and final preliminary rounds of both the Blue Chip Matchmaker (two $40,000 divisions) and George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series (three $50,000 divisions).