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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway returned from hiatus Friday night, with the statebreds making their downstate seasonal debut. The $351,656 New York Sire Stakes Hugh Grant Pace for 3-year-old colts and geldings was drawn and quartered.

The $88,314 third division saw 35-1 Sheppard Pace winner from a season ago, Hail The Taxi (John Campbell), returning to the scene of that night. This night, as the 3-10 favorite, he tried to flee the scene (:28.3, :58.2, 1:27.1), only to be picked off late by a second-over Swift As A Shadow (George Brennan).

The homebred (Winbak Farms) son of Bettor’s Delight, starting outside his six rivals, won by a neck in a pari-mutuel best 1:55.2. Major Bucks (Brian Sears) was third.

It was the first board finish in three seasonal starts for Swift As A Shadow. The third choice returned $13.20. The exacta paid $34.60, with the triple returning $75.

Mike Lizzi photo

Sir Cary’s Z Tam was a 1:52.2 winner in NYSS action at Yonkers.

The $88,314 final get-together saw Art Rooney Pace winner Doctor Butch (Jim Morrill, Jr.) unable to close the sale here. After intervals of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:25 — and with only token, first-up pressure — Doctor Butch tired noticeably in the lane.

It was Sir Cary’s Z Tam (Pat Lachance), perched in the pocket from post position No. 2, going on by. He defeated a fast-closing Bettor Than You (Sears) by a length in 1:52.2, with Doctor Butch fading to third, beaten 1-3/4 lengths.

Second choice Sir Cary’s Z Tam, a Bettor’s Delight colt (third in the Rooney) co-owned by his trainer/driver, Ira Rosenblum and M&M Harness Racing. returned $6.60 ($17.60 to place) for his second win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $44, with the triple returning $69. Of the $16,923 in the place pool, $14,874 was bet on Doctor Butch (Better Than You, a 10-1 win proposition, paid $33.80 to place).

The evening’s other sire stakes events, worth $86,714 and $88,314, respectively, were won by:

• Cautions Signs (by Dream Away); co-owners (trainer) Paul Jessop, Our Three Sons Stable, Donato Falcicchio/driver Brent Holland; 1:56.2/$56;
• Bet The Moon (by Bettor’s Delight); owner Edwin Gold/trainer Ron Burke/driver Brennan; 1:55/$4.40.

Friday night’s pair of $46,000 Open Handicaps, for trotters and distaff pacers, were won by eight-holers Monsignor Flan (Holland, $8.50) in 1:55.3 and Krispy Apple (Sears, $3.40) in 1:52.4.