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

Yonkers, NY — Miss Galvinator A went from a horse who couldn’t lose to one that couldn’t win. Until Friday night. The talented lass snapped a hard-to-fathom, 18-race losing streak dating to early March by dominating the co-featured $30,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway.

With Stephane Bouchard doing the honors for team Annunziata — owner Richard and trainer Ettore — this “Miss” dismissed the house in 1:54.3.

Leaving from penultimate post position five, Miss Galvinator A was in the scrum early. She was caught three-deep as odds-on favorite Double Dream N (Yannick Gingras) and Kurahaupo Diamond (Jeff Gregory) also had designs on leaving. Miss Galvinator A made the front around Double Dream N before the :27.2 opening two furlongs. From there, something was obviously amiss with the people’s choice as Double Dream N was sitting in an uncomfortable pocket.

Miss Galvinator A found a :56.4 intermission, then rebuffed Double Dream N as she vacated the two-hole. After a 1:25.3 three-quarters, Miss Galvinator A had a length and three-quarters to play with turning for home.

She held off all comers in 1:54.3, with Best Chance Hanna (Pat Lachance) grabbing second, beaten 1-1/4 lengths. Lourdes A (Tony Morgan), Kurahaupo Diamond and Don’t Blame Her (Greg Grismore) also made money, while Double Dream N finished in distress.

“She broke a (right) hind hobble,” Gingras said. “I was getting exactly the trip I wanted (behind Miss Galvinator A), but I had to get her out of there. It’s unfortunate because this mare has had no luck at all lately.”

For Miss Galvinator A, an 8-year-old Down Under daughter of Fake Left, it was her sixth win in 25 seasonal starts. The lass — who reeled off 13 consecutive wins (14-of-15) spanning late 2006 into early ’07 — returned $7.00 as the second choice, leading a $30.20 exacta and $124.50 triple.

Friday night’s co-featured $30,000 Open ‘Cap Trot saw 13-1 Winnin’ Image (Grismore) protect the two-hole, then scoot up the cones for the upset.

The 5-year-old American Winner gelding, who showed nothing in his local debut a week ago, sat chilly as Self Professed (Morgan) led through comfort stations of :28, :57.4 and 1:27.1. Grain Of Truth (Bouchard), who left into a three-hole, gave way grudgingly after challenging in and out of the final turn.

Winnin’ Image dipped inside, edging away to prevail by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57. Self Professed won the battle (against Grain Of Truth), but lost the war, while 13-10 invading favorite Green Day (Cat Manzi) and Five Carat Diamind (Pat Berry) earned minor monetary spillage.

Green Day, who aired in the $338,000 final of the Nevele Pride at Monticello earlier this season, was ordered to the outside in his Westchester debut and could not overcome the post from third-over.

Winnin’ Image, owned by Linda Matejceck and trained by Mickey Burke, returned $29.20 for his fourth win in 15 ’07 appearances.

The exacta paid $132.50, with the triple good for $643.

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.