Yonkers Raceway's signature series for the mature ma'ams, the Blue Chip Matchmaker, began Friday night with five $40,000 divisions.
In the first division, Krispy Apple (Matt Kakaley, $6.80) methodically prevailed from first-up in a paceless (:28.3, :58, 1:26) race, getting to 6-5 favourite Royal Cee Cee N (George Brennan) by a half-length in 1:54.2. Hot List (Yannick Gingras) was a pocket third.
Krispy Apple, leaving from post position No. 5 as the third choice, is now two-for-two to start the season. The five-year-old daughter of Western Ideal is trained by PJ Fraley for co-owners Bamond Racing and Joseph Davino. The exacta paid $16.20, with the triple returning $22.40.
Camille (Gingras, $2.30), part of the death-and-taxes entry, was sharp, two-move winner in the second split. Leaving from post No. 5, she slipped in front of partner Ginger And Fred (Kakaley) early, then took over (:27.3, :57.4, 1:26.1). She held sway by a measured neck in 1:54.3. Second went to a second-over Ginger And Fred, with Keepers Destiny (Brian Sears) third and Queen Of Royalty (Brent Holland) fourth.
Camille, a five-year-old Camluck lass making her seasonal debut, is co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 Stables and Jack Piatt. The exacta (Keepers Destiny second for this wager) paid $3.60, with the triple (Queen Of Royalty third) returning $60. The overflow show pool had $46,220 of the $47,454 wagered on the entry.
In the third division, odds-on favourite Feeling You (Tyler Buter, $3.90) won both the draw and the race. Pocketed to Rock N Soul (Gingras) through intervals of :28.2, :57.4 and 1:26.3, she slipped out behind Handsoffmycookie (Tim Tetrick) after that one took over in the final turn. Feeling You picked off 'Cookie' by a half-length in 1:54.2. Rock N Soul faded to third.
Feeling You, a six-year-old daughter of Cambest trained by Amber Buter for co-owners Buter the driver, Oldford Farms and Stephen Oldford, is now three-for-four this season. The exacta paid $16.60, with the triple returning $27.20.
Rocklamation (Gingras, $2.70) and Anndrovette (Tetrick), who finished 1-2 in last season's finale of this series, did so in the fourth division. The former, from post No. 4 (in one notch after Moonlit Dragon was a late scratch-injured), pocketed the latter, then waltzed through qualifier-like fractions of :29.4, :59.4 and 1:29. Rocklamation won the :27.3 sprint home (1:56.3), prevailing by a half-length. Katys Jet (Sears) was third.
Rocklamation, a five-year-old Rocknroll Hanover miss trained by Burke for co-owners Our Horse Cents Stable, Stable 45 and Jerry Silva, won her second race in as many seasonal starts. The exacta paid $4, while triple wagering was cancelled.
The fifth division's second choice Ramona Disomma (Dan Dube, $5.10), looped early by longshot Billmar Scooter (Buter), grabbed the lead from that one and never had issues (:28.2, :57.3, 1:26, 1:54.1). Eighthunrdolarbill (Sears) closed well to grab second -- beaten a length and three-quarters -- with Billmar Scooter third and JK Fine Art (Tetrick) fourth. Ramalama (Gingras), the 7-10 fave, jumped it off before the quarter.
'Ramona,' an eight-year-old homebred daughter of Pacific Fella trained by Rene Allard for owner Anatolia Racing Stable, has now won three (consecutive) races in six seasonal tries. The exacta paid $28.20, the triple returned $281 and the superfecta paid $703.
Friday night's $35,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by Political Desire (Jim Pantaleano, $20.40) in 1:56.
Also Friday, 47-1 Orange Bigi (Cat Manzi, $96.50) became the longest price winner of the local season, upsetting in the $21,000 fifth race trot (1:57.1).
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)