by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s first pair of 2010 events wrap up this weekend, with the finals of the Hopeful Pacing Series set for Friday and Saturday nights.

Ladies first Friday, March 12, with the $46,900, 10th race finale for 3-year-old fillies. Rev Me Up (Jason Bartlett, post three) is the early choice. The daughter of Park Place won her lone series start in 1:57.4, then went back across the river for a second-place effort in the $61,000 final of the Tender Loving Care. Ron Burke trains for co-owners Earl Smith and Frank Baldachino.

Dragon Princess (Cat Manzi, post two) also won her only series try, going first-up last week in 1:57. The Dragon Again miss, a spiffy 6-for-9 in her career, has hit the board in all but one of her lifetime efforts. Darren Cassar trains for owner Barry Charles.

The field, with declared drivers and morning line odds: 1-Isthmus Of Panama (Ray Schnittker, 10-1); 2-Dragon Princess (Manzi, 3-1); 3-Rev Me Up (Bartlett, 7-5); 4-O Lucky Me (Jeff Gregory, 8-1); 5-Brightest Star (Tyler Buter, 8-1); 6-SS Admiral (Jim Meittinis, 12-1); 7-Briefly (Steve Smith, 10-1); and 8-Angelino (Jordan Stratton, 15-1).

Saturday night, March 12, finds the $49,700 final of the Hopeful for soph colts and geldings (10th race) with Pan Grad (Bartlett, post four) accorded the role of morning line favorite. The son of The Panderosa, co-owned by (trainer) Dylan Davis and Michael Casalino, Jr., had a win, a second and a third in preliminary competition.

Fox Valley Valkari (Gregory, post one), Joey The Czar (Meittinis, post two) and Vintage Fenom (John Sheehan, post three) all enter after sharp series victories a week ago.

That field, with declared drivers and morning line odds: 1-Fox Valley Valkari (Gregory, 5-1); 2-Joey The Czar (Meittinis, 5-1); 3-Vintage Fenom (Sheehan, 6-1); 4-Pan Grad (Bartlett, 3-1); 5-Big Mystery (Greg Grismore, 10-1); 6-No Monkeys Allowed (Driver TBA, 8-1); 7-Hank’s Kid (Mike Forte, 12-1); and 8-Raging Cam (Stephane Bouchard, 12-1).

Yonkers’ regular five-night-per-week schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) remains in effect. First post for all racing programs is 7:10 p.m. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.

Please note that the Raceway now offers five superfectas nightly (races three, five, seven, 10 and 12), provided there are a sufficient number of wagering interests in each scheduled superfecta race.