by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Round 3 of the Yonkers Raceway/Standardbred Owners Association of New York Bonus Trot Series begins Friday night at Yonkers Raceway.

Post time for the nine race card is 7:40 p.m., with the trio of $7,000 Bonus Trot events going as races three, four and six.

Friday’s first division finds Whip A Way (Stephane Bouchard, post three) trying to remain perfect in series competition. The four-year-old daughter of Striking Sahbra, owned by Whip Or Wheel Stable and trained by Mark Ford, has four wins and two seconds in 11 seasonal starts. She enters off a 2:01 effort a week ago.

Noted Glide (Mike Forte, post one) and Cody’s Magic (John DiStefano, post four) were both bridesmaids in their first series tries.

The second Bonus Trot event matches up Round 2 winners Pageant Hall (Jim Marohn, post one) and Speedy Rattle (Anne Wheeler, post three). The former, a five-year-old Esquire Spur gelding co-owned (with East Creek Stable) and trained by Frank McMahon, Jr., threw out a lifetime best 2:02⁴ effort a week ago. The latter, a seven-year-old statebred son of Speedy Big Boy, also co-owned (with Bob Keller) and trained by Ms. Wheeler, has a tidy resume of seven wins and a pair of thirds in 10 ’04 tries.

Solar News (Jeff Gregory, post five) was a winner in the opening leg of the Bonus Trot Series, while Billy Wood N (Jim Marshall III, post two) has been a beaten odds-on favorite (second twice) in both of his series efforts.

Friday’s final Bonus Trot grouping includes a pair of last week’s runners-up in Dagger Hanover (Marshall III, post four) and Rozen (Greg Merton, post five).

Three Bonus Trot events have been carried over to the Saturday card.

Friday’s $9,450 Preferred Handicap Trot (seventh race) finds Kash Hombre (Forte, post six) leaving the Open Handicap ranks after misbehaving in his most recent try. The five-year-old statebred son of El Paso Kash has two wins and three seconds in his dozen ’04 work nights and career cash in excess of $263,000.

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

The Raceway’s Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday schedule (no live or evening simulcasting Thursday) remains in effect at least until April. First post remains at the usual 7:40 p.m. Afternoon simulcasting continues to be offered around the NYRA schedule.

April’s evening/harness simulcast schedule includes Balmoral Park, Buffalo Raceway, Freehold Raceway, Hazel Park, Hoosier Park, Maywood Park, Meadowlands, the Meadows, Monticello Raceway, Northfield Park, Penn National, Pocono Downs, Pompano Park, Raceway Park, Saratoga Raceway and Vernon Downs.

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