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

Yonkers, NY — The state’s glamour division makes its second downstate appearance Monday night, July 13, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $217,252 New York Sire Stakes Bruce Hamilton Pace. Four divisions — at $54,313 a pop — go postward.

Post time for the 13-race wagering card is 7:10 p.m., but there are two sire stakes events as early non-bettors at 6 and 6:15 p.m., respectively. The two wagering NYSS events go as races five and six.

The races honor the memory of Bruce Hamilton, who was, without question, one of the most popular and productive individuals in the history of the statebred program. Bruce served as the Executive Secretary of Harness Horse Breeders of New York State for 18 years, until losing his long and brave battle against cancer in May of 2003. He was 55.

Monday night’s first non-wagering race finds Hay Goodlooking (Gates Brunet, post five) looking for another local victory. A NYSS champ (and track record holder) at 2, the Art Major colt — trained by Brunet — has won four of his six seasonal starts and more than $81,000. He’s approaching a quarter-million in lifetime cash for co-owners Deborah Brunet, Ted Gewertz and Samuel Dotro.

The second non-bettor offers Handsome Harry (Jason Bartlett, post five) who, like Hay Goodlooking, was a winner here when this division rolled into town in mid-June. Hay Goodlooking did handle Handsome Harry when the two met up at Goshen last weekend. Mark Ford trains the son of Dream Away — 8-for-13 this season — for co-owners Ralph Del Priore, Jr. and Harry Doyle.

Outa My Head (Stephane Bouchard, post one) enters with consecutive statebred victories (here and Buffalo), highlighting a four-win, $51,000 season to date.

The sire stakes betting buffet includes Diamond Stick Pin, who landed post position six in the first wagering group. Howard Okusko, Jr. takes his regular seat behind the son of Bettor’s Delight, who has two wins, a second (to Hay Goodlooking here) and a pair of thirds in five seasonal starts. Jessica Okusko trains for Purple Haze Stables, Conrad Zurich and Edwin Gold.

The final NYSS foray — second on the wagering card — shapes up as a good battle between Redneck Outlaw (Greg Grismore, post two) and OK Braveheart (Jordan Stratton, post four).

The former, a son of Totally Western co-owned and trained by Dan Altman, has banked nearly $78,000 in ’09 despite losing all nine of his races. He was second in the $218,925 final of the Empire Breeders Classic at Tioga and fourth in last weekend’s $85,033 Jersey Cup at the Meadowlands.

The latter, unraced at 2, has been making up for it this season with four wins, five seconds and three thirds in 16 tries ($74,938). Chris Oakes trains the Bettor’s Delight colt for co-owners David Scharf, Rick Phillips and Chuck Pompey.