by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Lady Matawai N, who must be so vain because she likes to get her picture taken so often, goes after her third consecutive victory in Friday night’s co-featured $15,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway.

Post time for the 12 race card is 7:40 p.m., with the weekly distaff derby going as the seventh race.

Lady Matawai N was given the outside post position in the seven horse field, with Jeff Gregory driving for owner James Kouretas and trainer Ross Croghan. The six-year-old Down Under daughter of Tuapeka Knight held sway from off the pace a week ago, her 10th victory in 23 tries this season ($97,850) and 24th win in 57 efforts over the past two seasons. She had previously prevailed in a Monticello winners over event.

Gregory, who knows the lass well, is Ms. Matawai’s fifth different escort in as many work days/nights. She can go over the $300,000 career earnings figure with a win on Friday.

Get Over Lil (Jay Randall, post five) was a fast-closing second to Lady Matawai N a week ago. The five-year-old daughter of Walton Hanover, co-owned by Lawrence Kovacs and Linda Condon and trained by Sonny Dancer, has hit the board in six of her last seven efforts.

Ye Rule N (Mark Beckwith, post four) makes her local debut and first U.S. pari-mutuel try. The seven-year-old Down Under Holmes Hanover ma’am, who had been racing in Western Canada before finding her way to the Woodbine/Mohawk circuit, last raced for a purse in mid-May.

Ifuwantitcumngetit (Driver TBA, post one) won an accident-marred race here two weeks ago, then finished third in a Monticello matinee five days ago.

House Flight (Stephane Bouchard, post six) has been board certified in seven of her last eight tries over five different ovals, while Emerald Green (Driver TBA, post two) was third in last week’s Preferred Handicap.

Peyton B Sweet (Driver TBA, post three) earned the final pay envelope in last week’s ladies luncheon.

Friday night’s co-featured $15,000 Open Handicap Trot (11th race) finds Approved Action (Rejean Daigneault, post eight) sent to the outside for his first start in three weeks. The seven-year-old statebred son of Sir Taurus, owned and trained by John Grasso, has all four of his ’04 wins here and can surpass the $650,000 career cash plateau with a victory on Friday.

TW Rambo (Mike Forte, post seven) went the distance in last week’s featured trot, his fourth victory in the last seven tries. The eight-year-old Such Hustle gelding, owned by Kevin Quinn and trained by Frank Hartline, has won seven of his 21 seasonal efforts.

Bodacious Storm (Jim Meittinis, post four), second to TW Rambo a week ago, upset this race (at 15-1) in his previous performance. The four-year-old statebred Mogul Monster gelding, owned by Michael Funke and trained by Rich Campolong, has hit the board in all but one of his last seven tries.

Priceless Gem (Beckwith, post three) steps up after whipping the high-conditioned crowd as the odds-on favorite, while Zorgwijk Bedeviled (Greg Merton, post two) was third in last week’s featured trot, his sixth consecutive board finish.

H F’s Gal (Robert Petitto, post one), Jetset Matt (Lou Paulucci, post five) and Danzig (Bouchard, post six) complete the co-feature lineup.

Friday’s card also offers the $41,200 Royal Prestige Trot, a New York Bred Late Closer for three-year-olds in five divisions (races two, three, five, six and nine) — three divisions for colts/geldings and two for fillies.

Among the series standouts:

• Avictoryforlonging, a Majestic Victory gelding who has earned more than $37,000 this season, the most of Friday’s entrants. He has two wins and two seconds in his last four tries, the last three in New York Sires Stakes company. He drew post position number five in the first division, with Bouchard driving for trainer Jim Ray.
• Walden, a Sir Taurus gelding who has three victories and six in-the-money finishes in his dozen ’04 tries, including winning a NYSS event at Saratoga earlier this month. He starts from post number three in the third Late Closer, with Gregory driving for trainer Lon Rosenfeld.
• Alpine Action, a daughter of Giant Hit, has been first or second in six of her nine outings this summer. She hits town after a pair of Catskill runner-up races for trainer John Staskowski. Bouchard takes a seat from post number six in the fourth division.

Friday’s evening simulcast schedule includes the Meadows (post time 4:00), Del Mar (6:30), Northfield (7:00), Raceway (7:00), Saratoga (7:00), Ocean (7:20) and Pompano (7:40).

Yonkers’ current four night per week schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday) has a first post of 7:40 p.m. Afternoon simulcasting continues to be offered around the NYRA schedule.

August’s evening/harness simulcast schedule includes Del Mar, Evangeline Downs, Freehold Raceway, Hawthorne Racecourse, Hazel Park, the Meadows, Monticello Raceway, Northfield Park, Ocean Downs, Pocono Downs, Pompano Park, Raceway Park, Red Mile, Rockingham Park and Saratoga Raceway.

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