by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — The gods of the open draw bestowed upon Blastaway Sahbra the inside starting location for Friday afternoon’s $15,000 Open Trot at Yonkers Raceway.

Post time for the nine race card is (as if you didn’t know) High Noon, with the week’s featured trot going as the seventh race.

Blastaway Sahbra retains regular chauffeur Stephane Bouchard as he looks to keep the Westchester wheels a-turnin’. The six-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding was second in his most recent try two weeks ago, snapping a five-race local winning streak.

“Blastaway” has hit the board in all 17 ’04 county work days/nights (10 wins, six seconds, one third). For the season, “Blastaway” is batting a robust 44% (12-for-27) in the win column, with 21 in the money efforts ($128,833).

There was no rest for the weary during this past Independence weekend, with our subject having raced Friday across the river (fifth in a winners-over) and Sunday at Goshen (fourth in the Hall of Fame Drivers event).

Mark Ford trains for co-owners Dean Davis and Brenda Sugg.

Approved Action (Rejean Daigneault, post five) brings his career cash of more than $620,000 back to his favorite stomping grounds. The seven-year-old homebred/statebred son of Sir Taurus, owned and trained by John Grasso, returns for his first visit since early May, when he was second to Priceless Gem (Ray Schnittker, post two), who invades for his first local try since the middle of last month. The five-year-old son of Mr Lavec, co-owned by Schnittker and trained by Paul Doherty, won the aforementioned Hall of Fame Drivers event at Goshen this past Sunday (with Jim Doherty doing the honors). Priceless Gem tries for his sixth seasonal victory.

Trapper’s Salute A (Dan Dube, post three) hits town with a letter of recommendation from John Zimich and the populace of Pocono Downs.
The eight-year-old Keystone Salute Down Under gelding makes his local debut after a pair of wins and a pair of thirds in four Pennsylvania performances. It is the first small-surface start of the season for “Trapper,” who goes after a fifth ’04 victory.

Blast Off (John Plutino, post four), third to a pair of AWOL entities in last week’s Open ‘Cap Trot, has his sights set on a 10th seasonal victory, while Spat One (Jeff Gregory, post six), on the shelf a week ago, has been in the money in six of his last seven tries.

The mare Pure Adrenalin N (Jim Marohn, post seven) and Jetset Matt (Lou Paulucci, post eight) both step up after whipping the winners-over and Preferred ‘Cap crowds, respectively.

Friday’s co-featured $15,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace (ninth race) finds Lady Matawai N (Gregory, post eight) ordered outside of her seven rivals. The six-year-old Down Under daughter of Tupeka Knight, owned by James Kouretas and trained by Ross Croghan, wound up fourth in last week’s ladies luncheon after being wiped out in her previous try. Ms. Matawai has 21 wins and more than $200,000 over the past two seasons.

Ascending (Patrick Lachance, post six) won this race two weeks ago before ending up third in her most recent try. The four-year-old Camluck lass, owned by Blue Chip Partners and trained by Robert Horowitz, has been board certified in 14 of 20 ’04 efforts ($87,694).

Vivacious Raider (Driver TBA, post seven) hits town for her first visit since March’s Petticoat Pacing Series. The four-year-old Keystone Raider miss, fresh from a Michigan-bred double-heater at the Croswell Fair 16 days ago, swept her three Petticoat preps before tiring to sixth in the $39,000 final.

Chip and Gale A (Marohn, post four) has made money in her last five appearances, while House Flight (Bouchard, post two) was a bridesmaid in her last two Preferred Handicap performances.

Forever Blue N (Jim Marshall III, post five) has come away with cash in each of her last eight tries.

Southwind Sundew (Driver TBA, post one) wound up third (to Ascending) in her latest effort two weeks ago, while Giggling Matti (Dube, post three) vacates Delaware for her first Westchester visit since mid-April. Like Vivacious Raider, “Matti” was a Petticoat participant, grabbing the last payday in the finale.

Friday’s evening simulcast schedule includes the Meadows (post time 4:00), Vernon (6:30), Northfield (7:00), Penn National (7:20), Buffalo (7:30), Meadowlands (7:30) and Maywood (8:40).

Yonkers continues its Friday 12 Noon first post through July 23. Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays remain at the usual 7:40 p.m. first post.

Afternoon simulcasting continues to be offered around the NYRA schedule, while the Raceway is open for Friday evening simulcasting after High Noon live cards.

July’s evening/harness simulcast schedule includes Balmoral Park, Buffalo Raceway, Evangeline Downs, Hawthorne Racecourse, Hazel Park, Maywood Park, Meadowlands, the Meadows, Monticello Raceway, Northfield Park, Penn National, Pocono Downs, Pompano Park, Raceway Park, Rockingham Park, Rosecroft Raceway, Saratoga Raceway, Scioto Downs and Vernon Downs.

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