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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway features a plethora of stakes action this week, with both open and statebred types getting their close-ups.

Saturday night (June 13) finds the $421,950 Art Rooney Pace, with seven 3-year-old colts looking to drop the gloves in a “one-dash-for-the-cash” event.

With no elimination races needed, a pair of entrants — Fireintheshark and Venice Menace — had “prep” victories this past Saturday at Freehold, in 1:55 and 1:55.1, respectively. Venice Menace is now 5-for-5 this season. The remaining Rooney entrants — alphabetically — are Barber Pole, Hypnotic Blue Chip, If I Can Dream, Mobile and Monkey Off My Back.

The Rooney’s companion event, the Lismore Pace for soph fillies, offers a final purse of $293,970. Not Enough, a $30,000 supplemental entrant, and Kabbalah Karen B — both owned, trained and driven by Bulletproof Enterprises, Tracy Brainard and Jim Morrill, Jr., respectively — won this past Saturday night’s $20,000 elimination races.

The Lismore ladies — in alphabetical order — are In The Game, Indulge Me, Jkmusicofthenite, Kabbalah Karen B, Not Enough, Notjustaprettyface, Pumptuous and Spoiled Beach.

The open draw for both stakes finals takes place Tuesday afternoon.

Thursday night brings the New York Sire Stakes downstate for the first time this season. The $218,620 Art Watson Pace for 3-year-old fillies offers five consecutive divisions (races three through seven, inclusive).

Leading the lasses is defending NYSS champ Eagle Way, who drew post position five in the final ($44,044) statebred event. Morrill drives the Dream Away miss for owner Frank Dettore and trainer Mark Ford.

The regular five-night-per-week schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) resumes this week. First post for all racing programs is 7:10 p.m. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.