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

Yonkers, NY — Judge Joe and The Chancellor were established (by the author) as morning line favorites going into Saturday night’s (August 22) pair of elimination races for Yonkers Trot No. 55.

A total of 14 3-year-olds — including one filly — have been entered for Yonkers Raceway’s marquee trotting event, with a total purse of $750,774. The Trot’s companion race, the Hudson Filly, attracted 11 lasses and a purse of $367,985. The Hudson also features two elims this Saturday night.

After the eliminations, worth $40,000 (Yonkers) and $20,000 (Hudson) per, the first four finishers in each trial return for their respective finals a week from Saturday night (Aug. 29). Those purses are $670,774 (Yonkers) and $327,985 (Hudson).

The participants, after driver changes and with morning-line odds, are as follows:

Yonkers Trot first elim (eighth race): 1-Judge Joe (Doug R. Ackerman, 7-5); 2-Neighsay Hanover (Trond Smedshammer, 8-1); 3-Copy Catch (Jason Bartlett, 6-1); 4-Select Yankee (Stephane Bouchard, 8-1); 5-Keystone Activator (Cat Manzi, 10-1); 6-Celebrity Athena (f) (Michel Lachance, 5-1); and 7-Salutation Hanover (Greg Grismore, 10-1).

Yonkers Trot second elim (ninth race): 1-Road Rash (Marcus Johansson, 12-1); 2-The Chancellor (Andy Miller, 8-5); 3-Broadway Bistro (Bartlett, 10-1); 4-Vesuvio AS (Bouchard, 6-1); 5-Citation Lindy (Ray Schnittker, 8-1); 6-Truth In Action (Lachance, 8-1); and 7-Calchips Brute (Smedshammer, 4-1).

Hudson first elim (fourth race): 1-One Tough Girl (Manzi, 6-1); 2-Honorable Daughter (Bouchard, 7-5); 3-Sea Raven (Grismore, 12-1); 4-Missy’s Doubt Fire (Bartlett, 10-1); 5-Windsong Soprano (Pat Berry, 3-1); and 6-Yursa Hanover (Jeff Gregory, 5-1).

Hudson second elim (sixth race): 1-Hall Of Wishes (Bouchard, 10-1); 2-Sirenuse (Manzi, 8-1); 3-Whispering Wind (Smedshammer, 5-1); 4-Seaside (Bartlett, 3-1) and 5-Celebrity Juliet (Lachance, even).

Judge Joe and Calchips Brute, standout New York-bred sons of Credit Winner, have both excelled in statebred and open company. Judge Joe, carrying the banner of Team Ackerman, has banked more than $483,000 in his 20-race career. As far as home-track advantage, Judge Joe has two wins and a second in three career local starts.

Calchips Brute, third in both the final of the Hambletonian and the Colonial, has a win and a pair of seconds in four lifetime Yonkers’ tries. He’s banked in excess of $358,000 this season. Trond Smedshammer trains and drives for owner Diane Giuliano.

The Chancellor, a Yankee Glide colt who has raced very well of late, opens as the 8-5 choice from post two. He is undoubtedly looking for an easier effort here after an out-every-step fourth in the Hambo and a first-up second in the Colonial last weekend at Harrah’s Chester. Julie Miller trains the $338,000 winner in ’09 for co-owners (driver) Andy Miller and Arden Homestead Stable.

As for the fairer sex, Celebrity Athena shows a win in her division of the Zweig and a second in her division of the Delvin Miller. She’s owned by Celebrity Farms and trained by Staffan Lind. The lone lass drew the six hole in the first elimination.

According to the USTA’s David Carr, here is the recent Trot history of girls vs. boys:

• 1988 – Stage Entrance won her elim; second (to Southern Newton) in final; Lizzie Lee Brook won her elim; broke and finished last in final;
• 1991 – Esprit Spur third in both elim and final (won by Crown’s Invitation);
• 1992 – Passion Lavec finished fifth in elim;
• 1995 – CR Kay Suzie won both her elim and final;
• 1996 – Continentalvictory won the one-dash event;
• 2003 – Rapid Rail was eighth in her elim.