by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Turns out the reports of Hugh Hefner’s death were greatly exaggerated.

Hugh Hefner N obviously didn’t read the obituaries How else could we possibly explain a Yonkers Raceway’s appearance in Thursday night’s (Sept. 28) seventh race?

Gabriela Trmal photo

Hugh Hefner N wins the Yonkers feature on Thursday evening.

Granted, it was a sort of ghoulish hunch play, but Hugh Hefner N did deliver in the $15,000 event for 20-grand claimers. Opening as an odds-on favorite, he continued as the people’s preference, though drifting to 13-10.

Away third from post position three, the Playboy Pacer engaged the leader in the final turn, taking over before holding a closer at bay by a neck in 1:55. A night after his namesake’s passing, the horse returned $4.60 for his third win in 20 seasonal starts.

The 9-year-old Down Under Falcon Seelster gelding, somehow, that doesn’t seem right, was driven by Jason Bartlett and trained by Doug Dilloian Jr. for owner Keith Motusesky.