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

Yonkers, NY — Post positions are to be drawn Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 18) for Saturday’s (Sept. 22) $1.8 million New York Night of Champions, proudly hosted by Yonkers Raceway.

Eight $225,000 divisional finals — for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits — comprise the richest night of racing in the state.

The 23rd edition of the Night of Champions has each of the races sponsored by a prominent Empire State breeding farm or ownership group. This season’s races include:

• Kenneth J Syndicate LLC 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
• Crawford Farms 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
• Winbak Farm 2-Year-Old Filly Pace
• Morrisville College Equine Institute 2-Year-Old Filly Trot
• Blue Chip Farms 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
• Allerage Farm 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
• Cameo Hills Farm 3-Year-Old Filly Pace
• Stirling Brook Farms 3-Year-Old Filly Trot

As always, this season’s finalists have not only proven themselves up and down the Thruway (and various side roads) all summer, but also in Open stakes company.

Leading the way is, of course, world record Yonkers Trot winner Archangel. The 3-year-old colt was a perfect 5-for-5 against his statebred rivals during the sire stakes season.

Other divisional point leaders were Tirade Hanover (2-year-old trotting colts/geldings), Barn Babe (2-year-old trotting fillies), Doctor Butch (2-year-old pacing colts/geldings), Summertime Lea (2-year-old pacing fillies), Fortunista (3-year-old trotting fillies), Forever Just (3-year-old pacing colts/geldings) and a “dead-heat” between Romantic Moment and Handsoffmycookie (3-year-old pacing fillies).