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

YONKERS, NY – The final September Friday saw Yonkers Raceway offer its usual fare, with a pair of $30,000 Open Handicaps for trotters and distaff pacers.

Stonebridge Kisses returned to Westchester sharp and kept her roll going in the Filly and Mare ‘Cap Pace.

A career closer, she sat chilly as Miss Galvinator A (Stephane Bouchard) and Percee Angus (Greg Grismore) dropped the white gloves through fractions of :26.4 and :55.4. “Percee” even rebuffed a pocket pull by Miss Galvinator A passing the quarter-mile pole.

Burning Point (Cat Manzi), the 13-10 favorite who left for a seat behind the dueling dames, eventually made the lead after the 1:24.4 three-quarters. However, last week’s victress was far from out of the woods.

The aforementioned Stonebridge Kisses, leaving from post position No. 4 and last among the seven in the early going, went deep down the backside. She engaged the new leader in and out of the final turn then edged away, winning by a length-and-a-half in 1:54.1. Miss Galvinator A was a third despite a self-inflicted brutal trip, with Don’t Blame Her (Dan Dube) and Black Brinny (Larry Stalbaum) also coming away with cash.

For Stonebridge Kisses, a 7-year-old daughter of Artsplace trained by Mark Ford for owner Martin Scharf, it was her eighth victory–third consecutive and fifth in last six–in 36 seasonal starts. Having previously won at Chester and Harrington, she returned $11.80 (third choice) to her big city faithful.

The weekly trotting feature saw “Max” and Manzi do their business from second-over as Winnin’ Image (Grismore) two-moved to the front through fractions of :29, :58.3 and 1:27.4. The tenuous lead was gone early stretch, as first-up The Federalist (Dube) had first “run” before Tasty Max picked that one off.

“Max” drew off by two lengths in 1:58.1, his fifth win in 22 ’07 tries. The Federalist did hold second over Winnin’ Image, with last week’s winner, Astra HS (Eric Abbatiello), and Grain of Truth (Bouchard) completing the cashers.

Tasty Max, a 4-year-old Donerail gelding trained by Joe King for owner Marvin Meyer, paid $6.20 as the tepid favorite.