by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — The Empire’s best of the best converged upon Yonkers Raceway Saturday night (Sept. 24) for the $1.8 million New York Night of Champions. Eight $225,000 sire stakes finals, each sponsored by a prominent breeding farm, featured the best 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits in the 27th NOC edition.

Winbak Farm 2-Year-Old Filly Pace: Roaring To Go (catch driver Jason Bartlett), pocketed and a bit wobbly-gaited late, crossed the line first in 1:55. The wobbles didn’t do her in, but the cutting the cones did.

She was set down to second for leaving the course in the final turn, promoting 6-5 favorite Tequila Monday (Brian Sears, $4.50) to the win. The latter, last after an early, eight-hole break, was relentless, closing from a dozen lengths back at the half to miss a head before eventually being put up. Robin J (John Campbell) sat and was a best-of-the-rest third.

Tequila Monday, a daughter of American Ideal, trained by Chris Oakes for co-owners Susan Oakes and Chuck Pompey, has won four of her five seasonal starts. The exacta paid $12.40, with the triple (three wagering choices) returning $41.

Genesee Valley Farm 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace: Odds-on Funknwaffles (Jim Morrill Jr., $2.70) won this “match race” with second choice Miso Fast (Matt Kakaley) by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.3, a track record for 2-year-old pacing geldings. It was 10 lengths back to Twin B Cowboy (Tim Tetrick), with 140-1 shot What’s Goin’ On (Mark MacDonald) fourth.

Mike Lizzi photo

Funknwaffles was a winner in a track record mile of 1:52.3.

Funknwaffles, a son of American Ideal co-owned by Ms. Oakes and Crawford Farms Racing and trained by John Butenschoen, has been just about perfect (nine starts, eight wins, one second) this season ($257,284).

The exacta paid $4, the triple returned $29.60 and the superfecta paid $266.

“He’s an overachiever,” Morrill said. “May not be much to look at, but this was a tremendous mile on a cool evening.”

Majestic View Farms International 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot: He was the best in the division coming in and Devious Man (Andy Miller, $3.20) was the best going out. Working his way to the lead just before the half, he finished off his rounds in 1:58. Stick With Me Kid (Sears) chased after yielding, beaten 1-3/4 lengths, with Such An Angel (Campbell) a first-up third.

Devious Man, a son of Credit Winner owned by Stroy Inc. and trained by Julie Miller, has won six of his 10 ’16 tries. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $11.20, with the triple returning $23.40.

“He just zips around these small tracks,” Andy Miller said. “He was getting a little tired around the last turn, but he’s figured out how to win.”

Crawford Farms 2-Year-Old Filly Trot: Despite 22 days off and a scratched-sick in between, odds-on Barn Bella (Jeff Gregory, $3.20) held sway. She defeated an out-a-long-way Mamora Bay (Sam Schillaci) by length in a division track-record 1:57.2. Heels On Wheels (Kakaley) was third.

Barn Bella, a Conway Hall miss co-owned by trainer Steve and Nancy Pratt and Purple Haze Stables, has won six of her nine first-season starts. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $7.70, with the triple returning $22.

“She was sick before her last scheduled start (here),” Gregory said. “Steve (Pratt) didn’t want to qualify her because she’s been racing regularly before that. He and Claude Huckabone Jr., who drove her earlier in the season, did a very good job with her, because she was a project when she first started.”

Allerage Farm 3-Year-Old Filly Trot: Last season’s division champ, Non Stick (Ake Svanstedt, $4.80), defended her title in wire-to-wire, 1:56.4 fashion. Swinging Royalty (Brian Sears) was a pocket second, beaten a length, with 111-1 proposition Straight A Student (Mark MacDonald) closing for third.

Non Stick, a daughter of Lucky Chucky trained by her co-owner (with Little E LLC) and driver, has won six of her 10 seasonal starts ($345,907) and 12-for-16 in her career. The exacta paid $42.20, with the triple returning $841.

Fad Finance (Jim Morrill Jr.), as the 3-4 choice, had a brutal trip, trying to leave, only getting a three-hole seat when a rival broke and eventually finishing an empty fifth.

Cameo Hills Farm 3-Year-Old Filly Pace: Wishy Washy Girl (Morrill, $6) finished what she started, two lengths better than frosh champ Dime A Dance (Matt Kakaley) in a life-best 1:53.3. American Ivy (Andy Miller) was a loose pocket third.

No Clouds Bluechip (Sears), the 11-10 fave, was a weak first-over and backpedaled to last.

Wishy Washy Girl, a daughter of Roll With Joe trained by Tracy Brainard for co-owners Steven Demeter and Michael Cimaglio, is now four-for-14 this season. The exacta paid $24.20, with the triple returning $129.

Blue Chip Farms, 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace: Slight favorite Roll Away Joe (Jason Bartlett, $4.90) never had an anxious moment, whipping second choice Bottom Deals (Tim Tetrick) by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:52.3. Craftship (Scott Zeron) picked off the rest for third. Art Rooney Pace winner Missile J (Sears) tried it uncovered, gave way readily and finished last.

Roll Away Joe, a Roll With Joe gelding trained by Brainard for co-owners Demeter, Howard Taylor and Tom Lazzaro, has won six of his 17 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $14.80, with the triple returning $57.

Morrisville College Equine Institute 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot: Small-priced Smalltownthrowdown (Dan Daley, $2.80) needed some coaxing, but finished it off in 1:56.1. Dayson (Sears) was a good, two-move, eight-hole second — beaten a length — with Dante (Svanstedt) a pocket third and The Royal Harry (MacDonald) fourth.

Mike Lizzi photo

Smalltownthrowdown was a winner in 1:56.1 for Dan Daley.

The winner is a Cash Hall gelding trained by his driver for co-owners Ann-Mari Daley, James Crawford IV, Donald Brenner and Richard Lombardo. It was his seventh win in 15 seasonal starts ($446,263). The exacta paid $13.80, the triple returned $33.20 and the superfecta (four wagering choices in order) paid $110.

“He had issues with a pus pocket the last time he raced (at Yonkers),” Dan Daley said. “I know it had to be stinging him a bit, so that’s why I had to keep after him.”

Daley said Smalltownthrowdown would be in the Harrisburg sale.

“He’s going to make someone some money, but I have partners and we need the money to buy more babies.”

Saturday night’s pair of $45,000 Open Handicaps were won by: Pace, Bit Of A Legend N (Jordan Stratton, $4.30) in 1:52.1 and Trot, Allerage Star (Andy Miller, $5.60) in 1:54.2.