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

Yonkers, NY — A field of 11 3-year-old colts shall contest the 2008 edition of Yonkers Raceway’s Art Rooney Pace.

The total purse of the ’08 Rooney is $618,270, with a pair of $40,000 eliminations set for this Saturday night. The first four finishers in each elim will return for next Saturday night’s (July 5) $538,270 final.

Leading the first elimination (sixth race) for the Rooney is Badlands Nitro (Brian Sears, post one), who looms a very short price (he’s 1-5 on the early line) from the pylons. The son of Badlands Hanover, co-owned (with John Celii) by trainer George Teague, was second in the $1.47 million North America Cup in his most recent try after beginning the season with four consecutive victories.

The second elimination includes early choice Santanna Blue Chip (Jody Jamieson, post four), third in the North America Cup and career millionaire, and Riggins (Ray Schnittker, post two), the defending New York Sire Stakes frosh champ.

The fields for Saturday night’s elims for the Art Rooney Pace, with declared drivers and morning-line odds, are as follows:

First elim (sixth race) — 1-Badlands Nitro (Brian Sears, 1-5); 2-Atochia (Ron Pierce, 8-1); 3-Dontloseyourdayjob (Yannick Gingras, 6-1); 4-Legacy N Diamonds (Jody Jamieson, 10-1); and 5-Moon Beam (Eric Abbatiello, 8-1).

Second elim (ninth race) — 1-Meant To Be Me (John Campbell, 6-1); 2-Riggins (Ray Schnittker, 7-2); 3-Dragon King (Jason Bartlett, 5-1); 4-Santanna Blue Chip (Jody Jamieson, 5-2); 5-Genuwine (Andy Miller, 8-1); and 6-Idle Hour (Bartlett, 7-2).

Saturday night’s card also includes the $605,854 final of Yonkers Raceway’s Yonkers Trot (10th race) and the $324,694 final of the Hudson Filly Trot (eighth race).

Yonkers’ five-night-per-week schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday — all at 7:40 p.m. — and Saturday — at 6:50 p.m.) remains in effect. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.

Please be advised that beginning next week (Monday, June 30), and continuing through the week of Monday, Oct. 27, Yonkers is adding Wednesday nights (first post 7:40 p.m.) to its live schedule.