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

Yonkers, NY — The night before “unlucky” Friday the 13th, Greg Grismore rolled a lucky seven, winning that many Yonkers Raceway dashes from 11 drives. Grismore-driven horses made money in all of his races.

Grismore, who began the evening tied with Ryan Anderson for fourth with 35 local victories, won the $5,000 pacing opener with public choice Corner Cruiser ($3.10) in 1:59.4.

After finishing fourth in the second race, Grismore swept the $128 Pick 4 with Fivewillgetuten ($4.80) in the $5,000 third race pace (1:57.3), Mutual Funs ($10.60) in the $9,000 fourth race trot, Celebrity Phantom ($4.70) in the $11,000 fifth race trot (1:59.2) and Duckie’s Delite ($9.80) in the $6,000 sixth race pace (1:57.3).

Grismore sat out the seventh race, then wound up fifth in races eight and nine. He found paydirt again in the $11,000 10th race pace with the pocket-sitting Sand Shania ($21.40) in 1:57.

Our subject enjoyed some R&R in the 11th race, finished fourth in the penultimate 12th race, then completed his picture parade in the 13th race pacing finale as Chester County ($3.70) won her fourth consecutive race, this one in 1:57.

“It’s by far the best night I’ve had since moving east,” Grismore said.

The Ohio expatriate matched the then-North American record of 10 wins in a single program in June of 2004 at Northfield Park.

“(Thursday) came at a good time,” Grismore said. “I was in a bit of a slump.

“I drove a lot of good horses and it all just worked out. It was a fun night.”

The 38-year-old Grismore, fresh from the first two $5 million purse seasons of his career, has won more than 5,200 races, with purse money in excess of $28 million.