by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — SPF Forty, adroitly stepping up after whipping the winners over crowd a week ago, leaves from the outside post position in Saturday night’s $15,000 Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway.

Post time for the 13 race card is 7:40 p.m., with the year’s first Open ‘Cap Pace going as the ninth race.

SPF Forty starts from post number six, with Mark Beckwith again driving for co-owners Fred and Anita Fialkow and trainer Julius Czermann, Jr. The six-year-old Jenna’s Beach Boy gelding was sharp in victory a week ago, lasting on the lead after being double-parked past the quarter-mile. He owns a three race, half-oval winning streak.

Happy Together N (Stephane Bouchard, post five) returns for his first visit since mid-July. The six-year-old Down Under Armbro Operative gelding, owned by Joe Muscara and trained by Chris Height, put up career numbers a year ago in both wins (14) and wampum ($187,125). He has made money in 11 of his last dozen tries, hitting the board on 10 of those occasions.

Sempre Pronto (Jim Marohn, post three), a winner two starts ago, has been in the money in last seven local efforts (two wins, four seconds, one third). The five-year-old son of Northern Luck, owned and trained by Ettore Annunziata, shows no signs of letting up after putting up season’s-best figures in victories (12) and cash ($126,550) in ’03.

Matted Hare (Jim Taggart, Jr., post one) was second-best (to SPF Forty) in last week’s pacing feature and has hit the board in three of his last four tries.

Franco Saga N (Billy Parker, Jr., post two) and Black Cat Bone (Driver TBA, post four) complete the lineup.

Saturday’s evening simulcast schedule includes Northfield (post time 7:00), Pompano (7:00), Penn National (7:20), Meadowlands (7:30), Northville (7:40), Sam Houston (8:00) and Balmoral (8:40).

The Raceway’s Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday night schedule remains in effect for the first two months of the new year. First post remains at the usual 7:40 p.m.

Please note that the Raceway is not open Thursday evening for simulcasting as originally scheduled. Afternoon simulcasting continues to be offered around the NYRA schedule.

Yonkers’ 2004 stakes schedule is to be released shortly.

January’s evening/harness simulcast schedule includes Balmoral Park, Batavia Downs, Freehold Raceway, Lebanon Raceway, Maywood Park, Meadowlands, the Meadows, Monticello Raceway, Mountaineer Racetrack, Northfield Park, Northville Downs, Penn National, Pompano Park, Rosecroft Raceway, Sam Houston Race Park and Saratoga Raceway.

For more information, or to obtain a calendar, please contact the Raceway at (914) 968-4200.