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

Yonkers, NY — Post positions were drawn on Tuesday for the 18th edition of the New York Night of Champions, which returns to Yonkers Raceway on Saturday night (September 15) after a two-year Saratoga sublet.

The $1.2 million cash grab is, as usual, comprised of eight $150,000 Sires Stakes finals, for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. The finals — going as races two through nine on Yonkers’ 10-race card — are each sponsored by a prominent Empire breeding facility and/or sales company.

The rundown for Saturday’s New York Night of Champions:

• 2nd Race–Morrisville College Equine Institute 2-Year-Old Filly Trot
• 3rd Race–Genesee Valley Farm 3-Year-Old Filly Pace
• 4th Race–Winbak Farm 2-Year-Old Filly Pace
• 5th Race–Majestic View Farms International 3-Year-Old Colt Trot
• 6th Race–Summer’s End Equine Sales Co. 2-Year-Old Colt Trot
• 7th Race–Parks’ Breezy Knoll 3-Year-Old Filly Trot
• 8th Race–Cameo Hills Farm 2-Year-Old Colt Pace
• 9th Race–Blue Chip Farms 3-Year-Old Colt Pace

Several statebred standouts are on display Saturday.

The pacing parade is led by Kenneth J, who has also distinguished himself in open stakes company and is on the threshold of becoming a millionaire.

The 3-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight, last season’s frosh divisional champ, has won half of his dozen ’07 starts and more than $575,000. Second (at 1-5) to a runaway here a week ago, he enters the Night of Champions with career earnings of $997,904.

“Kenneth” drew the pylons, with Jim Morrill, Jr. driving for owner Ken Jacobs and trainer Linda Toscano.

The rookie pacing colts and geldings might be the most contentious contest, with the likes of Riggins (Ray Schnittker), Hands To Yourself (Jim Morrill, Jr.) and Share The Delight (Driver TBA).

Riggins whipped Hands To Yourself in what turned out to be a match race here a week ago and enters the final with five wins (including three in a row) and a second in seven seasonal starts ($144,647). Schnittker also trains the son of Art Major for co-owners Buffalo Boy’s Stable, Howard Taylor, Frank Baldassare and David Pepin. Riggins races as part of a coupled entry with Jagger Blue Chip (Driver TBA).

Hands To Yourself, who has hit the board in all seven ’07 work days/nights ($99,851), owns the swiftest mile among this crowd — a 1:53.3 effort at Tioga late last month. Angelo LaBella trains the Sealed N Delivered gelding for the quartet of James Moran, Robert McCarthy, Neal Chilson and Patrick DePasquale.

Share The Delight saw his perfect (five-for-five) career end quickly here last week, breaking early and often as the 3-10 choice. With Morrill opting for Hands To Yourself, the son of Bettor’s Delight — with seasonal stash in excess of $85,000 — gets a new chauffeur for the first time in his brief career. Toscano trains for the Mile High melange of the Four Horsemen Stable and Algonquin Farms.

Full-sisters Lislea Phia and Lislea Sophia, both bred and owned by Yonkers’ president Tim Rooney, trained by Harry Harvey and driven by Brian Cross, compete in consecutive contests.

The former (and elder), with six wins and more than $170,000 to her credit this season, drew post position six. The latter has been worse than second just once in six ’07 tries ($44,165).

J K Majorette (Morrill Jr., post two) enters the frosh filly final with five wins in her six tries ($90,221).

Among the trotters, Hitwiththeladies looks to defend his Sires Stakes championship. The sophomore Giant Hit colt, owned and trained by Allan McCarty, won his ’06 final despite an early break. This season, he’s been in-the-money in 10 of 11 tries ($224,609) and has career earnings in excess of $420,000 without ever leaving the state. Morrill Jr. drives from post six.

First-season trotters of distinction include male division leader Napoleon (Bouchard, post three) and Ace High Hall (Morrill Jr., post six), who set a Yonkers track record (1:59) for his weight class in his most recent try.

Happy Ticket, a daughter of Malabar Man, also owns a slice of the Yonkers record book, negotiating her mile in 1:59.2 late last month. Driver Cat Manzi and trainer Jim Raymer, who teamed to win last month’s Yonkers Trot with the Raymer-owned Green Day, are at it again. For the season, Happy Ticket has three wins and two seconds in six efforts ($58,919).

The New York Night of Champions, inaugurated in 1990, was held exclusively at Yonkers Raceway through 2004. When Yonkers closed for the installation of video gaming machines in June of 2005, the event made its way up the Thruway/Northway to Saratoga Raceway in 2005-06. It returns to Westchester Saturday night.