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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway hosted its first seasonal get-together for the state’s rookie colts and geldings with Friday night’s $288,096 New York Sire Stakes Milt Taylor Trot.

Six $48,016 divisions went at it, with Royalty For Life (Jason Bartlett, $5.10) making a mockery of the final division.

Mike Lizzi photo

Royalty For Life was a 2:00.1 winner.

The son of RC Royalty-Bourbon ‘n Grits two-moved to the lead, then threw down fractions of :29.2, :59.2, 1:29.2 and 2:00.1. The second choice defeated a recovering from a miscue, 9-10 favorite Dexter Lake Club (Jim Morrill, Jr.) by 12-3/4 lengths, with Insider Access (Jeff Gregory) third.

It was the third win in four frosh tries for Royalty For Life, co-owned by (breeder) Alfred Ross, Paul Fontaine and Raymond Campbell, Jr. and trained by George Ducharme. The exacta paid $13.60, with the triple returning $55.50.

The other NYSS events were won by:

• Explosive Action (Conway Hall-Yetta’s Angel); owner-trainer John Grasso/driver Bartlett; (placed first, first life-win) 1:59.3/$12.40;
• Lindy’s Creditline (Credit Winner-Giza); co-owners (trainer) Rob Harmon, Comfortably Numb Stb, Adam Friedland, Arthur Farkas/driver Gregory; (first life win) 2:03.4/$24.60;
• Columbia Lion (Malabar Man-British Columbia); owner Alan Kirschenbaum/trainer Rick Plano/driver George Brennan; 2:01.2/$2.70;
• Fashion Blizzard (Credit Winner-Fun And Strokes); owner Fashion Farms/trainer Jim Campbell/driver Morrill Jr.; (first life win) 1:59.4/$2.80;
• Creditora, g (Credit Winner-New Royalty); owner Purple Haze Stables/trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer; 2:01.2/$3.

Friday’s pair of $44,000 Open Handicaps, for trotters and distaff pacers, were won by favored Pembroke Heat Wave (Bartlett, $5.50) in 1:56 and second longest shot on the board Shaky Hanover (Jordan Stratton, $47.40) in 1:54, respectively.

Stakes action continues Saturday night, with the $119,000 final of the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace for 2-year-old colts and geldings.