Yonkers, NY --- The New York Sire Stakes races aren't handicapped -- but don't try telling that to Omega Angel

The division leader among the Empire's 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings returned to Yonkers Raceway on Monday night, September 8 as part of the $117,535 Milt Taylor Trot division of the New York Sire Stakes.

One week ago, Omega Angel earned a place in the Raceway's record books when he won his New York Sire Stakes division by a dozen lengths in 2:04². That effort, the fastest ever for first-ever gelded trotters in the history of Westchester County, was nothing more than a preliminary for his return engagement.

Leaving from post position number two in Monday’s final Taylor division (purse $29,233), Omega Angel (Scott Mongeon) was promptly sent off at 10 cents on the dollar -- and promptly went off-stride in the first turn.

With Omega Angel -- and three of the other five young ladies -- doin' the mambo, RC Destiny (Dan Daley), also a winner one week ago, made the lead from his outside starting slot.

RC Destiny blazed his way through fractions of :28⁴ and :59⁴ with "Destiny" and Daley trying to put as much real estate between themselves and their pursuers. RC Destiny had a four length edge at the quarter-mile and 12 at the intermission.

All the while, Omega Angel was regaining his rhythm and settled into fifth, racing 18 and one-half lengths behind the leader. As RC Destiny was getting to the three-quarter pole in 1:31¹ “the Angel” was taking flight.

Unleashing a furious burst down the backside the final time, he was just five lengths behind at the penultimate quarter-pole, and Omega Angel then swooped down upon the pacesetter and was eating away lengths as if they were licorice sticks.

Omega Angel was still charted as second by a nose turning for home but this was not an Angel of mercy. The gelded son of Sir Taurus rolled past RC Destiny and widened through the lane and won by nine and one-half lengths.

The mile in 2:03 took care of his week-old track standard by one and two-fifths seconds. RC Destiny was a clear second, some 20 lengths ahead of Four Starzzz Style (Jim Morrill, Jr.). The effort was just one-fifth off of his personal best, taken in front of the lovely Nellie Kennedy at Batavia Downs on the first night of August.

Omega Angel ($2.20) not only gave his short-priced investors angst a ala carte, but also won his sixth consecutive race. The winner's share put him over the $59,000 plateau as he prepares for the $1.2 million New York Night of Champions, to be raced here on September 20.

The winner is co-owned by Vernon Devine and Doug Morton and is trained by John Mongeon, Jr.

Overshadowed by Omega Angel's heroics was the fact that Stephane Bouchard drove the night's three remaining state-bred winners to maiden-breaking victories.

Monday's other New York Sire Stakes Milt Taylor events, worth $29,233, $29,233, and $29,833, respectively, went to Ted Gewertz and Martha and Milton Frank’s Speed Makes Kash (g, by El Paso Kash), trained by Deborah Brunet, and who took a mark of 2:05; Michael Davis’ Tremendous Hit (c, by Giant Hit), trained by Howard Okusko, Sr. to a 2:05¹ win for which he paid $25.40; and Emil Benvenuto’s Dauntless Warrior (g, by Sir Taurus), trained by Deborah Brunet, who won in 2:07 and who paid $6.40 on top.

Its not the New York Sire Stakes, but rather its the Empire's late-closers that will grab the gusto this coming Thursday night at Yonkers Raceway in the $32,600 Call For Rain Pace for 3-year-olds.

Post time for the 13 race pari-mutuel card will be 7:40 p.m. (EDT) with the late-closing events going as races four, six, and seven. There is also a non-wagering late-closer scheduled for just past 7 p.m.

It's ladies first in Thursday's opening, on-the-betting-card late-closer (purse $8,100), which will feature the division’s big cheese, Miss Allyssa Mae (Jim Compton, post two).

The homebred daughter of Held For Ransom likes those "fives" -- as in five wins, five seconds, and five thirds in 19 starts this year ($26,345). "Allyssa" has competed in late-closing, sire stakes, and county fair stakes this summer.

The second Call For Rain division (purse $8,300) has the colts and geldings on the aisle.

It's The Paper Boy (Wally Hennessey, post six), a Magical Mike gelding, has earned more than $20,000 this year and Sweetsmellofsuccess (Dan Daley, post four) will go after a sixth victory in 2003.

The final late-closer lineup (purse $8,200) will see AP Stonehenge (Josh Marks, post seven), the leader among late-closer colts and geldings, stuck with the outside post position. The Hicaliber Hanover gelding, trained by Ed Hart, has gone three-for-three in this series, all in wire-to-wire fashion.

Kassa Direct (Jack Rice, post five) will try for a third victory in 2003. The son of Kassa Branca has been in the money in nine of his 18 efforts this year ($21,278).

The non-betting late-closer (purse $8,000) for sophomore fillies will include Search The Road (Jeff Gregory, post two) and Dream No More (Scott Mongeon, post three).

The former, an On The Road Again lass, has earned more than $37,000 this year and the latter, a Kassa Branca miss, has hit the board in 11 of 18 tries in 2003 and has earned in excess of $28,000 this year.

The rich New York Sire Stakes program will continue at Yonkers throughout September, culminating on the $1.2 million New York Night Of Champions on Saturday, September 20. Eight $150,000 divisional finals for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and on both gaits will comprise the richest night of racing in the state.

Thursday's evening simulcast schedule will include signals from the Meadows (post time 6:40 p.m.), Rosecroft Raceway (7:20 p.m.), Batavia Downs (7:30 p.m.), Hazel Park (7:30 p.m.), Scioto Downs (7:30 p.m.), Vernon Downs (7:30 p.m.), and Retama Park (7:45 p.m.).

The Raceway currently features live racing Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, at 7:40 p.m. (EDT).

Evening harness and Thoroughbred simulcasting will accompany all live programs and afternoon simulcasting continues around the New York Racing Association schedule.

Yonkers also offers free admission every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights, and the Raceway continues to offer free admission and general parking for its afternoon simulcasts.

September's harness simulcast schedule includes signals imported from Balmoral Park, Batavia Downs, Freehold Raceway, Harrington Raceway, Hazel Park, Indiana Downs, Maywood Park, the Meadows, Monticello Raceway, Northfield Park, Ocean Downs. Pocono Downs, Raceway Park, Rosecroft Raceway, Saratoga Raceway, Scioto Downs, and Vernon Downs.

There are also evening "flat" forays from Del Mar, Evangeline Downs, and Penn National, to name a few venues.