by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — A total of 52 of the finest free-for-allers in training have been nominated to the 2010 edition of Yonkers Raceway’s $1 million (est.) George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.

The Levy, honoring the Hall of Fame founder of Roosevelt Raceway, begins Saturday night, March 27, with the first of five preliminary rounds. Each prelim race in the series goes for $50,000, with the final — set for Saturday night, May 1 — worth in excess of $200,000.

Leading the nominees is defending series champion Foiled Again, who was wrapped up (1:52.3) in the $370,000 finale.

Southwind Lynx, winner of Yonkers’ only million-dollar race — the 2007 Art Rooney — brings his $1.4 million career bankroll up from Dover, where he’s won the last two weekly features. George Teague stablemate Badlands Nitro, back to the wars this season, won the ’08 Rooney as a major part of his $1.5 million career resume.

Millionaire Special Report, the ’08 Levy winner, is also among the eligibles, as are standout New York-breds Go Go Solano (the 2009 NYSS soph colt champ), Handsome Harry and Hypnotic Blue Chip.

Companion event to the Levy, the $750,000 (est.) Blue Chip Matchmaker, has lured 28 of the best pacing mares. That series gets underway Friday night, March 26, also with the first of five prelimary rounds. Races in each leg are worth $40,000, with the final — $125,000-plus — going the same night as the Levy, Saturday, May 1.

Double-millionairess Southwind Tempo, 33-for-52 lifetime, has distinguished herself everywhere, including a Yonkers win in the ’07 Lismore.

Other marquee names include Shanghai Lil, who won the 2009 Lady Maud here. McGibson, the 2009 winner of Yonkers’ Hopeful Pacing Series, moved her home base to the Meadows, where she’s won three features in a row.

A pair of NYSS champs in Artimittateslife and Eagle Way are also eligible, as is the formful On The Glass, winner of the last two local Filly and Mare Open Handicaps.

Chancey Lady and her $1.3 million bankroll — winner of this season’s Cape and Cutter at the Meadowlands — looks to make amends here. The talented lass broke early as the odds-on favorite in last season’s finale of the Matchmaker.

Ginger And Fred, a force in Meadowlands’ current Overbid series, earned more than $680,000 last season.

For more information on these series, please contact the race office at (914) 457-2627.