by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Approved Action, a down-the-road dominator in last week’s Open Handicap Trot, must negotiate the hinterlands in Friday night’s $15,000 co-feature at Yonkers Raceway.

Post time for the 10 race card is 7:40 p.m., with the week’s marquee trot going as the eighth race.

Approved Action was assigned the always fun-filled post position number eight, with Rejean Daigneault again driving for breeder/owner/trainer John Grasso. The seven-year-old statebred son of Sir Taurus has been no worse than a bridesmaid (seven wins, five seconds) in a dozen of his 25 seasonal starts ($125,800).

Miss Gibbons (Howard Gill, post six) makes her first local appearance since slapping around New York Sires Stakes sorority sisters a year ago. The four-year-old Empire daughter of Giant Hit (like Approved Action, a homebred) ended her nearly perfect ’03 campaign with 14 wins in 16 tries ($184,366). She handily won all three of her local tries, including September’s $150,000 NYSS Final. The pride and joy of 78-year-old “Doc” Gill, Miss Gibbons returned to the wars last month at Monticello, going three-for-three against Catskill company.

Blastaway Sahbra (Dan Dube, post seven) chased home Approved Action a week ago after getting to that one in their previous meeting. The six-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding, trained by Mark Ford for co-owners Dean Davis and Brenda Sugg, has 25 victories over the past two seasons (15-for-40 in ’04).

Sundance Kid G (Jim Meittinis, post five) had been quite good in all five North American tries (three wins, one second, one third) before jumping it off at the start of last week’s Open Handicap.

Tagapine (Jim Marshall III, post four), third in the featured trot a week ago, has hit the board in her last four tries, while Fifty Two Finn (Steve Salerno, post one) and Zorgwijk Bedeviled (Jeff Gregory, post three) each won two starts ago. Bodacious Storm (Jim Marohn, post two) is in the midst of a career season ($45,652 to date).

Friday night’s $15,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace (ninth race) finds Get Over Lil (Jay Randall, post seven) starting outside the half-dozen hussies. The five-year-old daughter of Walton Hanover, co-owned by Larry Kovacs and Linda Condon and trained by Sonny Dancer, eyes a seventh win of the season.

House Flight (Dube, post six) returns for her first visit since cutting the mile and finishing second in late August, while Chip And Gale A (Marohn, post four) was a pocket second to the AWOL Stonebridge Kisses in this event two weeks ago (there was no distaff derby carded last Friday).

Mariana’s Trench (Marohn, post three) was a mediocre third (at 1-2) versus lesser in her most recent effort, while Tasma Walton A (Driver TBA, post five) returns after taking much coin down with her (6-5) this past Monday at Monticello.

Aimend (Jim Marshall III, post one) and Fully Committed (Driver TBA, post two) complete the coterie.

Friday’s evening simulcast schedule includes the Meadows (post time 4:00), Bay Meadows (4:15), Northfield (7:00), Raceway (7:00), Saratoga (7:00), Pompano (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.

November’s evening/harness simulcast schedule includes Colonial Downs, Freehold Raceway, Lebanon Raceway, Meadowlands (both breeds), the Meadows, Monticello Raceway, Mountaineer Race Track, 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.