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

YONKERS, NY – ‘Twas the final preliminaries for New York Sire Stakes entities Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway, with seven races comprising two divisions.

The $289,520 Hugh Grant Pace for 3-year-old colts and geldings went as a fearsome foursome…and chalk players were buried each and every occasion.

Pop Z Pop ($22) and driver Stephane Bouchard speed-popped his rivals in the fastest of the four divisions, winning his $72,705 event by five lengths in a purse-best 1:53.2. The son of Riverboat King, trained by Erv Miller for owner Kidz LLC, took no prisoners through fractions of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:25.3.

Kenneth J (Jim Morrill Jr.), the 1-5 favorite, was second-over behind a dullard and never a threat, settling for second, with Wealth Manager (Tony Morgan) third.

“I made such an easy lead and was able to get a cheap enough half,” Bouchard said. “This horse had some talent even as a 2-year-old and he was very sharp (tonight).”

Morrill Jr. did prevail in the opening ($72,705) Grant group, closing stoutly with Kollateral Damage ($8) to snap even-money The Best (Josh Marks) by three-quarters of a length in a life-best 1:54. Brave Call (Morgan) was a pylon-sitting third

“He just took off through the stretch,” Morrill said. “The cover (Four Starz Boat, Cat Manzi) wasn’t going anywhere, so I went wide early.”

The son of Pro Bono Best, trained by Julius Czermann Jr., for co-owners Fred & Anita Fialkow, won his fifth race in 21 ’07 tries.

The final two Grant gatherings, worth $72,705 and $71,405, respectively, saw Mimi’s Bono Best (Eric Goodell, $30.20) and Vicar Hall (Howard Okusko Jr., $43.80) author big-balloon upsets in identical (1:54.2) time frames.

The former, a Pro Bono Best gelding, went the distance from the pylons, holding off both 1-5 Forensic Z Tam (Pat Lachance) and a tight-quartered Alilability (Brian Sears) by three-quarters of a length. Mimi’s Bono Best, owned by L&L Devisser and trained by Nick Giberson, is now 6-for-11 this season.

The latter, a son of Pro Bono Best, went three-deep passing the three-quarters before widening out by 2 1/4 lengths. Big Al’s Delight (Sears), the 3-5 choice, was second after seeing the winner get too big a jump, while Hollywood King (John Cummings Jr.) was third.

Jessica Okusko trained the winner for Purple Haze Stable LLC.

“I was lucky,” the driving Okusko said. “A lot of things worked out for him tonight. I’m more than happy to take the check and go home.”

Saturday night’s $251,967 Jim Meagher Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings–renamed to honor the memory of Yonkers’ longtime corporate controller– was carved up into $84,489, $84,489 and $82,989 portions.

Riggins (Ray Schnittker) won a stretch-long match race with Hand to Yourself (Morrill Jr.), getting up by a head in the passing lane in 1:55.2. The 7-10 favorite ($3.40) won his fifth race in seven ’07 tries, leading a popular $4.80 exacta and $10 triple (three favorites).

Schnittker also trained the son of Art Major for the cartel of Buffalo Boy’s Stable, Taylor, Baldassare and Pepin.

“I just didn’t want to rough him up,” Schnittker said. “He was already in (next week’s final), and I’m glad he had an easy trip.”

The second Meagher event saw On the Brink (Lachance) do his damage from off-the-pace, getting into contention from third-over before ducking inside. The Dream Away frosh, co-owned (and trained) by Duane Marfisi, along with Aaron Waxman and Alan Alber, defeated The Race is On (Bouchard) by a length-and-a-half in a life-best 1:55. Alpine Jubilee (Brian Allen) was third.

Share the Delight (Morrill Jr.), he of the 5-for-5 resume and the 3-10 choice of the common man, jumped it off in the first turn and at least once thereafter. He wound up distanced, and his driver wasn’t sure why.

“He wasn’t real comfortable scoring down, and his mouth seemed to be fighting (the bit),” Morrill said. “I don’t think there’s anything (physically) wrong with him, and I’m hoping he’s back (for the final).”

The final Meagher grouping went to Bullville Powerful (Bouchard), who just did get by Majority Party (Sears) by a charging neck in 1:56.1. Sterling Rocket (Jeff Gregory) was a best-of-the-rest third. Sears, visiting Yonkers for the first time since the mid-90’s, took an 0-for-9 collar with one scheduled drive scratched.

The winning 6-5 favorite ($4.40), owned by Bullville Farms and trained by Steve Crevani, is now 3-for-8 this season.