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

Yonkers, NY — Same age group, different gait. For the second consecutive evening, Yonkers Raceway hosted the Empire’s leading 3-year-old fillies. This night, it was the pacers in the $244,035 Art Watson, divided into $48,807 quintuplets.

Joe Lewandowski photo

Diva Delight won the opening NYSS division in 1:54.3 for Keith Kash, Jr.

Diva Delight (Keith Kash, Jr.) stung, then stalked, odds-on choice Hannah Isabel (Yannick Gingras) in the first division before going by the favorite in mid-stretch. She won by a half-length in 1:54.3. Diva Delight, a daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Mallbreaker, co-owned by Jack and William Heinz and trained by Jim Perry, returned $8.70 as the solid second choice. She has won half of her eight seasonal starts.

Tuesday night’s second NYSS division found Ron Pierce, in his quest to make toll money, prevail with the down-the-road (1:55.4) Kissing Bandit ($9.80). It was the first win in five ’08 tries for the Art Major-One More Kiss miss, trained by Erv Miller for Deo Volente Farms.

Pierce doubled his pleasure (with a scheduled Tim Tetrick drive) when Determined Lady ($9.10) won the evening’s third Watson event in 1:56.3. The Pacific Fella-Jasmine T victress sat pocketed to Allamerican Celeb (Greg Grismore) and found the passing lane before the leader tired. Determined Lady is trained by Wayne Hughes for co-owners Frank Buffardi and Vincent Finch.

Mike Lizzi photo

Artimittateslife posted her third straight NYSS score with a 1:55.4 triumph.

Artimittateslife ($2.90) rolled in the fourth statebred soireee, going the distance (1:55.4) for a third consecutive NYSS victory. Stephane Bouchard — who made it down from Vernon after guding Yonkers Trot winner Napoleon to a win in a sire stakes event –did the honors for trainer Ed Hart and Canadian co-owners Robert Young, Brian Barton and Paul Gazzola. The Art Major-Oven Mitt lass has won five of her eight ’08 tries with earnings in excess of $275,000.

“They said the flight (from Utica to White Plains) would take an hour,” Bouchard said. “It took an hour and 15 minutes, so I missed the (third division here) by about five minutes. Other than that, it was a good night.”

The evening’s final NYSS event saw JK Majorette ($5.90) give Bouchard his second NYSS win during an abbreviated local work night. The daughter of Art Major-A Yankee Classic just did edge by a stubborn 47-1 Bet The Ranch (Jim Morrill, Jr.) in 1:56.1. Linda Toscano trained “Majorette” — now 4-for-7 in ’08 — for 3 Brothers Stables.

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.