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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s next-to-last harness program of 2006 offered, in no particular order, a red-hot mare, a retirement affair, some hoof “Prince” and a very fit “Muscles.”

Since we believe in ladies first, we shall start with a lady who is always first.

Miss Galvinator A made it nine consecutivie victories, taking the tri-featued $21,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace despite an awful trip.

Assigned the outside in what became a seven horse sorority (Carolina Moon was a judges’ scratch), the 7-year-old lass (and regular escort Jim Marohn) was actually sent off as the 5-2 second choice. Favoritism, to the tune of 2-5, went to Jersey invader Up Front Dragonfly (Eric Goodell).

The latter, leaving from post position five, made the lead around Missthrill (Greg Grismore) before a :27.2 opening quarter-mile. Miss Galvinator A floated out for a seat that wasn’t there — sort of like being late for musical chairs.

The half went in :57.1 before “Dragonfly” rolled out a :28.3 third quarter. She took a 1-1/2 lead into the lane, but the belle of the ball had yet to be heard from. Miss Galvinator A, out every step, roared home from a wide fifth turning for the money and actually won going away. She handled Up Front Dragonfly by a length in 1:55.3, pacing her last portion in :28.4. Missthrill was third, while Nannywithafanny (Mark Beckwith) and Stonebridge Kisses (Stephane Bouchard, four winners on the 13-race card) each grabbed a final ’06 pay envelope.

For Miss Galvinator A, a Down Under daughter of Fake Left owned by Richard Annunziata and trained by Ettore Annunziata, she ends her career season with 14 victories in 39 tries and earnings of more than $238,000.

Her win backers saw $7.30, with the exacta paying $21.20 and the triple returning $68.50. For his part, Marohn drove three winners Saturday night.

The post parade for the weekly distaff derby was led by a special guest, long-time Yonkers’ favorite Get Over Lil.

The 7-year-old daughter of Walton Hanover, who notched 20 of her 33 career wins over this surface, was officially retired Saturday night. Co-owners Linda Condon and Larry Kovacs, trainer Sonny Dancer, driver Jay Randall and groom James Doane were on hand, along with a cast of thousands (author’s embellishment) to wish her well — as do we.

“Lil,” who leaves with earnings of $326,084, is to be bred nezt season to 2005 Horse of the Year Rocknroll Hanover.

Back to the action, where both Western Prince (Ted Wing) and Lhasa Muscles (Bouchard) scoffed at eight holes to win the Open Handicap Pace and Trot, respectively.

Western Prince adroitly left for a seat third behind pace-setting John Adams (Goodell), who carved up portions of :27.2, :57 and 1:25.1. That one had a length advantage entering the final frontier, but Western Prince — who edged off the cones after the three-quarters — edged on by.

The 5-year-old Western Hanover gelding, also owned and trained by Wing, stuck his neck out in 1:54.1. He ended his ’06 season with seven wins in 37 tries and cash of just under $97,000.

Our First Falcon N (Ron Cushing) rallied for third, while Life Sizzles (Claude Huckabone III) and Pick A Trail (Mike Sorentino, Jr.) each added to their W2’s.

Western Prince, dismissed at 10-1, paid $22.20, leading a $127 exacta and $341.50 triple.

As for Lhaha Muscles (Bouchard), he of the three-race winning streak since returning from just under a half-year off, that one also patrolled the path taken by Western Prince.

He dropped in third as rank outsider Praktickle Yankee (Goodell) led through fractions of :29.1 and :59.4. Lhasa Muscles, making his first local appearance since late June of 2004 (as a bottom conditioned commodity), went up and over the longshot leader before the 1:28.2 three-quarters.

Odds-on favorite Beach Nut Brand (Jeff Gregory) took up the chase, but was not getting the leader/winner when he misbehaved, eventually finishing last.

“Muscles” muscled home 4-1/2 lengths clear of KD Girl (Mark Gingrich) in a snappy 1:58.2. Good And Plenty (Patrick Lachance) was third, with Adonis B (Tyler Stillings) and Nahcotta Jude (Marohn) grabbing some cash for the New Year’s Eve bash.

Lhaha Muscles, a 5-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding, finished ’06 with 10 victories in 18 tries and earnings of more than $188,000. Ross Croghan trains the winner for Let It Ride and Stake Your Claim Stables and Sheri Watchman. He paid $5 as the second choice. The exacta returned $56, with the triple good for $314.

Yonkers Raceway bids adieu to 2006 with Sunday’s New Year’s Eve 12-race extravaganza. First post is 5:00 p.m. sharp. New Year’s Eve dining packages are available at both the Empire Terrace and Lillian Russell Cafe. Please call (914) 457-2456 for information and reservations.

Please note that Yonkers is also racing New Year’s Night (7:40 p.m.), and rings in 2007 with a scheduile change. Once the ball drops, live racing is offered with six programs per week — Monday, Wednesday (beginning Jan. 10), Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:40 p.m., with a Tuesday matinee at 1:00 p.m.

Harness and thoroughbred simulcasting is available seven days a week, while Empire City’s nearly 4,200 video gaming machines are in play daily from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.