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

Yonkers, NY — On Wednesday afternoon at Pocono Downs, Eric Goodell won the 3,000th race of his driving career. On Friday night (October 5) at Yonkers Raceway, Goodell was reunited with one of the mainstays toward that milestone.

Goodell and Stonebridge Kisses teamed for a fourth consecutivie victory — sixth in the last seven tries — winning the co-featured $30,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.

Operating as usual from off the pace, “Kisses” — the 9-10 favorite — minded her business early while Miss Galvinator A (Stephane Bouchard) had to work to grab the throttle from pole-sitting Sweet Celebration (Larry Stalbaum).

This “Miss” led passing a :27.1 opening quarter-mile, :56 second halfway house and 1:24.1 three-quarters. All the while, second choice Burning Point (Cat Manzi) — who had to wait to grab a brief seat, then was out first-up — wound up giving way grudgingly.

Stonebridge Kisses, who was more than grateful for the tow, was about to go wide.

Miss Galvinator A owned a 1-1/2 length lead entering the lane, but “Kisses” had the form and the momentum. She rolled by, defeating Miss Galvinator A by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.3 — an effort that tied the track standard for older pacing mares (Alexi Killean and Percee Angus, both this past summer).

Burning Point saved the bottom of the ticket, with Don’t Blame Her (Jim Pantaleano) and L Dee’s Rosemel (Pat Berry) grabbing the consolation coin.

“She’s a funny horse,” Goodell said. “You can’t leave with her, and there are times when she acts like she’s not interested, but then she just kicks it in.”

For Stonebridge Kisses, a 7-year-old daughter of Artiscape trained by Mark Ford for owner Martin Scharf, it was her ninth win in 37 seasonal starts. The career bankroll is now just under $878,000. She returned $3.90, leading a $21.60 exacta, $45.40 triple and $141.50 superfecta.

Friday night’s co-featured $30,000 Open ‘Cap Trot found even-money favorite Winnin Image (Greg Grismore) grind pacesetting Promising Angel (Manzi) into submission and hold sway.

The latter, one of two mares in the melange, sprinted from mid-pack through ambitious intervals of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:26.1. Bright Idea (Pat Berry) was perched in the pocket, while Winnin Image was away fifth. He moved past the intermission, then methodically made up ground.

Promising Angel was all but done turning for home, swallowed up by the interloper, who prevailed by a measured length in 1:56.3 — one-fifth off his personal season’s best. Haste (Mike Forte) photoed Bright Idea for second, with Speed Of Shogun (Jim Meittinis) and Promising Angel completing the cashers.

Winnin Image, a 5-year-old American Winner gelding, is enjoying a career season for owner Linda Matejceck and trainer Mickey Burke. He paid $4.30 for his sixth victory in 21 ’07 tries, with the exacta worth $32 and the triple good for $94.50.

Live racing is currently offered at Yonkers with six programs per week — Monday through Saturday nights at 7:40 p.m. Harness and thoroughbred simulcasting is available seven days a week, while Empire City’s nearly 5,500 video gaming machines are in play daily from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. The rechristened facility is celebrating its first anniversary this coming Thursday, October 11.