by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Monday night’s (August 15) card at Yonkers Raceway was enveloped by Brian Sears, who won seven races on the 13-race card.

Sears, who drove in every race after scratching out of the opener, made up for lost time by winning the next four races — including an $85.50 personal Pick-3. After a second- and third-place finish, Sears won the eighth race, then completed his winner’s circle sublet in races 11 and 12.

Sears has 80 Westchester wins this season, good for eighth place locally and not at all bad for his “second job.”

George Brennan added four winners, with Brent Holland and Stephane Bouchard getting one each.

NYSS action resumes on Thursday

New York Sire Stakes return downstate Thursday night (August 18), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $251,100 Lew Barasch Trot for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

That trotters are on display is a fitting tribute to the memory of “Tootie,” whose Harness Racing Hall of Fame career was highlighted by his tenure at Roosevelt Raceway. There, he helped launch the International Trot in 1959, making it a worldwide phenomenon.

There are a half-dozen, $41,850 Barasch divisions — three off the card (beginning at 6 p.m.) and three on, starting consecutively with the fourth race — featuring many standout freshmen.

The first wagering NYSS event finds three entrants all winning their most recent statebred (Vernon) soirees. Coraggioso (Phil Fluet, post three), a Conway Hall colt, has two wins, a second and a third in his five starts. He’s banked in excess of $31,000 for co-owners/breeders Tom Durkin and Joe Spadaro.

Archangel (Jason Bartlett, post two) prevailed for a maiden-breaking victory after a big move a week ago. The son of Credit Winner is co-owned by trainer Peter Arrigenna, Alan Hainsworth and Clare Semer. Credicity (George Brennan, post four) was a handy pocket (maiden) winner in his most recent, drawing off in the final stages. Trond Smedshammer trains for Purple Haze Stables.

The second betting Barasch is led by Flyhawk Jester (Dan Daley, post four), whose rookie resume includes four wins and two seconds in six tries ($58,749). The son of RC Royalty, trained by Daley for his wife, Ann-Mari, along with Albert and Michelle Crawford and Richard Lombardo, was an open length, 2:01.1 winner here late last month.

Vintage Cash (Stephane Bouchard, post three) authored an 11-1 upset in his local division last month, then went the distance in his most recent (Batavia) try.

Thursday’s final sire stakes (wagering) event has the talented troika of Delano (Ray Schnittker, post one), Southwind Austin (Andy Miller, post two) and A Penny Earned (Jeff Gregory, post six). All were decisive winners here when this division hit town last month.

Among the non-betting neophytes are Royal Shyster, another Dan Daley-trained and driven first-season standout. Like Flyhawk Jester, Royal Shyster has four wins and a pair of seconds in six tries ($54,437). He drew outside his six rivals in the second before-the-card event.