by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Lady Matawai N, who returned a winner in last week’s Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace, was again farmed out to the far outside for Friday night’s $15,000 co-feature at Yonkers Raceway.

Post time for the 11 race card is 7:40 p.m., with the weekly distaff derby going as the seventh race.

Lady Matawai N and regular driver Jeff Gregory were assigned post position seven (one closer than last week) for owner James Kouretas and trainer Ross Croghan. Ms. Matawai was a handy victress last Friday, her first local start in three weeks (the previous local Open Handicap) and her first Westchester win since late September.

For the season, Lady Matawai N has won 13 of her 33 seasonal starts ($140,900) with 11 of those victories coming in local Open Handicaps. The six-year-old Down Under daughter of Tuapeka Knight enters with career earnings of more than $338,000.

Alison Bay N (Marcus Johansson, post four), a reformed claimer, won an Open ‘Cap (at nearly 14-1) two starts ago in mid-November. The eight-year-old Down Under In The Pocket miss, trained by Eldo Leonelli for Albra Stables, eyes her 13th ’04 victory.

Reach For Eternity (Greg Merton, post six) crosses the river for her second start after a two-month hiatus and her first local try since early September, when she won a high-conditioned event. The four-year-old daughter of Falcon Seelster, owned by DCPM Racing and trained by Tim Case, can sneak past the $200,000 career cash hurdle with a win on Friday night.

Lourdes N (Stephane Bouchard, post five) makes her first local visit since early October, while Mariana’s Trench (Driver TBA, post three) has made money in all three tries since returning to the Open Handicap ranks.

Bare Hug HR (Mike Forte, post one) and Sandra G (Mark Beckwith, post two) complete the lineup.

Friday night’s co-featured $15,000 Open Handicap Trot (ninth race) finds Mysterious Caller (Forte, post five), last week’s 33-1 upset winner, going after his eighth win of the season. The five-year-old Call Toll Free gelding, also trained by Forte for co-owners Brian Kleinberg and Mark Feder, went over the $150,000 career earnings figure with his improbable win a week ago.

Blastaway Sahbra (Bouchard, post eight), snapped on the money by Mysterious Caller last week, has two wins and three seconds in his last five (Open ‘Cap) efforts. The six-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding, trained by Mark Ford for co-owners Dean Davis and Brenda Sugg, has 17 wins (14 here) and more than $187,000 on his ’04 resume.

Miss Gibbons (“Doc” Gill, post four) earned the bottom of the ticket in last week’s featured trot, her fifth board finish in nine seasonal soirees. The Good Doctor also owns and trains the four-year-old Giant Hit miss, last year’s New York Sires Stakes champ.

Pacing-bred True Story (Michael Langdon, post six) was second (to Blastaway Sahbra) in this event two weeks ago before finishing fifth last Friday. The seven-year-old Kentucky Spur gelding has eight victories and more than $108,000 on account this season.

Driver Langdon, a New Zealander who is to turn 33 this Thursday, has been plying his craft in Ontario, with 143 wins (through Monday) to his credit this season.

Langdon, who drove True Story north of the border (Georgian Downs) in late October/early November, last showed up at Yonkers more than four years ago, winning a pair of races (with Peppy Dale N and When U Ready N) in eight starts.

Madison’s Tuition (Driver TBA, post seven) once again pledges the leading fraternity after slapping around the winners over crowd the past two weeks.

Duke Of Earl (Rick Farrington, post one), Rustico Ben (Gregory, post two) and Tagapine (Driver TBA, post three) round out the roster.

Friday’s evening simulcast schedule includes the Meadows (post time 6:40), Northfield (7:00), Saratoga (7:00), Penn National (7:20), Rosecroft (7:20), Meadowlands (7:30) and Maywood (8:40).

Yonkers’ current four night per week schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday) has a first post of 7:40 p.m. Afternoon simulcasting continues to be offered around the NYRA schedule.

December’s evening/harness simulcast schedule includes Freehold Raceway, Lebanon Raceway, Meadowlands, the Meadows, Monticello Raceway, Northfield Park, Northville Downs, Penn National, Pompano Park, Raceway Park, Rosecroft Raceway and Saratoga Raceway.

For more information, or to obtain a calendar, please contact the Raceway at (914) 968-4200.