If horseplayers were looking for drama, they found it Friday night in the first of three $40,000 divisions in the third leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at Yonkers Raceway.

Drama Act and George Brennan overtook pace-setter and 4-5 favourite Miss You N right on the wire after the pair engaged in a spirited duel through the final quarter. The Ron Burke-trained Drama Act, a first leg winner, put a nose in front late as the 8-5 second choice, stopping the clock in 1:52 4/5.

Brennan left the gate well with Drama Act this week, and she settled in fourth as first Keep Rockin A and then Miss You N exchanged the top. Miss You N, with Dexter Dunn, controlled the action in 27.2 for the opening quarter and managed to rate a 56.3 half before pressure arrived.

Brennan sent Drama Act out at the half, and the Well Said-sired mare advanced with purpose on the backstretch, leaving second-over Bolt Of Beauty unable to maintain contact. A third quarter in :28 was paced by the leader, with Drama Act nose-to-nose with her through the final quarter. Both Brennan and Dunn asked the most of their respective charges, and on the wire Drama Act got the job done. Miss You N, a second leg winner, had to settle for second on this night, with Bolt Of Beauty third and early leader Keep Rockin A fourth in the field.

Owned by The OK Corral, Drama Act returned $5.20 to win and keyed a $9.10 exacta and a $33.40 trifecta.

Karma Seelster pushed to the front at the quarter for driver Jordan Stratton and dominated her field in the second $40,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker flight, getting her first victory in the series.

The Bethinator and Tim Tetrick left alertly from the pole position, forcing second choice Gias Surreal to take a seat. Stratton then moved from the pocket with Karma Seelster to gain control at the :26.3 quarter. Karma Seelster had the top to herself from there and cruised through middle-half fractions of 55.3 and 1:23.4. Gias Surreal and Jason Bartlett pulled before three quarters, providing cover for Blue Ivy at that station.

Stratton and Karma Seelster kicked it into high gear, leaving her rivals in the dust on the final turn, and sprinted home in :28.1 to complete the 1:52 mile. Blue Ivy and driver Tyler Buter rallied for second, with Gias Surreal settling for third and early leader The Bethinator fourth.

Trained by Andrew Adamczyk, Karma Seelster won for the second time this year for Ontario-based owner Karen Hauver. As the 6-5 favourite, Karma Seelster returned $4.40 to win. The exacta came back $14.20, with the triple an even $31. 

Racine Bell stamped herself as the one to beat in the series following another devastating performance in the third and final section of the evening. A five-year-old daughter of So Surreal, Racine Bell overcame post seven for the second straight week and cruised to a 1:52.2 victory, leaving second choice Scarlett Hanover in the dust on the final turn for driver Jason Bartlett.

Racine Bell was three-deep briefly in getting around Scarlett Hanover on the first turn, but then waltzed around the track through fractions of :28, :57.1 and 1:24.4. On the final turn she gained separation from the field as Man Dontforget Me and Dunn moved coverless into second. A final quarter of :27.3 sealed Racine Bell's third victory of the year for trainer David Dewhurst and owners Chris and Dale Lawton.

Racine Bell returned $2.50 as the prohibitive favourite. The exacta with Man Dontforget Me returned $11.60. Third-place finisher Best Head West helped the triple return $60.50.

Racine Bell was a winner for the 24th time in her career.

Five $50,000 divisions of the third round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series are on tap on Monday's (April 4) program.

(Yonkers)