by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Any other night, such a matchup would be listed under “marquee.” This Saturday night, however, Queen Serene and Hidden Viggorish fall into the category of “opening act.”

Demonstrating good manners, Yonkers Raceway subscribes to Ladies First during its richest card ever.

The first of four “Yonkers Trot Night” stakes events is the $330,474 Hudson Filly Trot. Eight 3-year-olds are set to go postward, and, in a shameless attempt to even out the playing field, the two lasses who’ve proven the best drew the worst.

Hidden Viggorish and Queen Serene, each the easiest of elimination winners a week ago, landed post positions 7 and 8, respectively in the final. The Hudson goes as the third race, preparing the palate for the $291,456 Lady Maud Pace (4th race), the $546,830 Messenger Stakes (5th race) and, of course, the $728,930 Yonkers Trot (7th race).

But this missive is about the ma’ams, whose nostrils begin next to one another as they meet for the first time Saturday night.

Hidden Viggorish, according to her trainer/driver Brian Zendt, is “a freak. That’s the best way I can describe her.”

A homebred daughter of SJ’s Caviar, she went unraced pari-mutuelly as a freshman, stopping after two qualifers. Developed by Zendt’s father, Bill, Hidden Viggorish began her purse career this past April, winning at the Meadows.

She dominated her statebred rivals in wild-speed fashion, winning a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event at Pocono and a Keystone Classic dash at the Meadows. She then crushed her “homeys” in the $100,000 Sire Stakes final. Hidden Viggorish hid from her foes by a dozen lengths in 1:53.1.

From there, she bought into, and won, the $180,000 American-National at Balmoral before writing a check (or money order, we’re not sure) to enter the Hudson. It was the first trip to Fun City for both horse and trainer/driver.

“She doesn’t warm up at all, and just races one way,” Brian Zendt said. “Eventually, we’ll have to teach her to rate a bit, but we’re not about to play around now.”

Hidden Viggorish enters the final of the Hudson riding a 10-race winning streak.

Queen Serene, from the barn of trotting meister Trond Smedshammer, showed the requisite amount of potential to begin her career. The daughter of Dream Vacation, who sold for just $10,000, won twice in seven starts a year ago, banking upwards of $66,000.

This season, the Queen ascended, winning the $170,176 Matron at Dover, the $115,500 second heat of the Kentucky Filly Futurity (second to Passionate Glide in the race-off), a Delvin Miller Memorial elim (second, again to Passionate Glide, in the final) and a pair of New Jersey Sire Stakes legs.

For the season, she has seven wins and six seconds in 17 starts with earnings of $394,560.

“She’s been solid on any size track,” Smedshammer said. “She doesn’t seem to care if it’s two, three or four (turns).”