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

Yonkers, NY — Season-debuting Bee A Magician (Brian Sears, $9.20) and Michael’s Power (Dan Dube, $4.20) both went down the road Saturday night (May 2), winning Yonkers Raceway’s co-featured $42,000 Open Handicaps.

Mayra Escamilla photo

Bee A Magician was a narrow winner in the Open Handicap Trot.

Bee A Magician, 2013’s Harness Horse of the Year, showed no signs of a five-month hiatus and a pair of mundane qualifiers in the weekly trotting feature. In play from penultimate post position No. 6, she worked around Luminosity (George Brennan), then held sway through weight stations of :27.4, :57.1, 1:26.3 and 1:54.4.

That effort established a new track record for older trotting mares.

Luminosity chased around the oval, but was beaten a head. It was more than four lengths back to Tweet Me (Tyler Buter) in third, with Lorenzo Dream (Jason Bartlett) and Modest Prince (Steve Smith) completing the cashers. Not Afraid (Dube), first-up as the 7-5 favorite, was poor and backpedaled to last.

For third choice Bee A Magician, a 5-year-old daughter of Kadabra trained by Nifty Norman for co-owners Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman and David McDuffee, it was her 32nd win in 48 career starts, with $2,756,270 in earnings. The exacta paid $36.50, with the triple returning $206.50.

The week’s featured pace saw 11-10 choice Michael’s Power, from post No. 5, move past One Through Ten (Bartlett), then finish it off (:27.3, :56.3, 1:24.4, 1:52.1), Second, beaten 2-1/2 lengths, was a buried-alive The Real One (Pat Lachance), who skimmed the cones. One Though Ten, Duel In The Sun (Mark MacDonald) and Big N Bad (Sears) settled for the remainder.

For Michael’s Power, a 6-year-old homebred Camluck gelding bred/owned by Jeff Snyder and trained by Mark Silva, it was his fifth win in 12 ’15 tries. The exacta (two wagering favorites) paid $9.50, with the triple returning $66.50.

Yonkers welcomes Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model Hannah Davis

It was “The Buter and the Beautiful” Saturday afternoon, with Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model Hannah Davis visiting Yonkers Raceway.

Sean Hamrock photo

Tyler Buter and Hannah Davis pose for the camera on Saturday at Yonkers.

The lovely Ms. Davis was on hand to take pictures with fans as well as judge — with the equally-lovely Tyler Buter (one of the Raceway’s leading drivers) — Empire City’s annual Kentucky Derby tradition, the Fancy Derby Hat Contest.

A good time was had by the participants, though there was one complaint.

“I hate being constantly stalked by the paparazzi,” Buter said.

The Raceway’s live season continues Monday (7:10 p.m.), followed by a French-centric Tuesday (1 p.m., first round of the Jackpot Next Door Claiming Series), then Thursday through Saturday (all at 7:10 p.m.). Note Sunday matinees are done until November. Evening simulcasting accompanies all night programs, with afternoon simulcasting available daily.