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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway saw the state’s glamour division for the first time this season, with Monday night’s (July 28) $235,663 New York Sire Stakes Hugh Grant Pace. Five divisions — at $47,132 a pop — for 3-year-old colts and geldings manhandled the marquee.

Riggins was a 1:54.3 winner for Ray Schnittker in his NYSS division.

Riggins, last season’s frosh division champ, made short work at a short price of his six rivals in the third division.

With trainer Ray Schnittker doing the honors, Riggins — who broke early in his elimination for the Art Rooney Pace last month — made an immediate lead here from post position four. He put up unpressured intervals of :28, :58 and 1:26.3 before easily holding second-choice Grab Your Keys (Greg Grismore) at bay by a length in 1:54.3. Cry For Cash (Jason Bartlett) was a best-of-the-rest third.

For Riggins, an Art Major-Towner’s Image colt co-ownerd by Buffalo Boy’s Stable, Frank Baldassare, David Pepin and Howard Taylor, it was his second (consecutive) win in eight seasonal starts. He returned $2.30, leading a $5.90 exacta and $29.20 triple.

Mike Lizzi photos

Bullville Powerful cruised to a 1:53 win for Yannick Gingras.

Bullville Powerful (Yannick Gingras) returned to the statebred ranks and had few issues in the final NYSS event. Leaving from post five, he strolled through soft stations of :28, :57 and 1:25.1 before disposing of pocket-sitting Sailing Cruise (Jordan Stratton) by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:53, the fastest of the five Empire entities. On The Brink (Pat Lachance) was third.

Steve Crevani trained for Crevani Farms as the soph son of Bettor’s Delight-Bullville Gabettie won his seventh race in a dozen ’08 tries. Bullville Powerful paid $2.40, with the exacta returning $7.20 and the triple worth $23.20.

Monday’s other Grant groupings went to:

• Cessna Flight, g (Dream Away-One Sad Sister); co-owners (trainer) Phillip Fluet and Keith Franklin/driver Bartlett; 1:53.4/$4.00;
• Cheyenne Barry, g (Bettor’s Delight-Marilyn Sue); (lessee) The Cheyenne Gang/trainer Robbie Siegelman/driver Gingras; 1:54.1/$10.60;
• Jagger Blue Chip (Bettor’s Delight-Felicia Hanover); co-owners (trainer/driver) Schniitker, Pepin, Steve Arnold, Blue Crue Racing; 1:55.2/$6.10.

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