The Grand Circuit stakes season for this year kicks off on Friday night, March 15 with three $40,000 USD divisions of the opening round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for pacing mares at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Lit De Rose (post two, Jordan Stratton listed to drive for trainer Mike Lachance) heads the first grouping in the second of 12 races on the program. Lit De Rose, a nine-year-old Leader Bayama mare owned by breeder Guy Corbeil, won a leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series a year ago and then finished a rallying second to Amazing Dream N in the $328,200 final. She enters Friday's test off a victory on March 1 in the Fillies & Mares Invitational Pace at Yonkers. Her competition includes Mikala (post four, George Brennan listed to drive for trainer Nik Drennan), who captured a pair of Grand Circuit stakes finals in 2023.
The second split is race four and Karma Seelster (post three, Stratton listed for trainer Andrew Adamczyk), who has made the last two Blue Chip Matchmaker Series finals, will look to get off to a strong start. The seven-year-old daughter of Sportswriter, owned by Karen Hauver and Shady Hill Racing Stable, won her final prep at Yonkers over non-winners $30,000 USD last five company on March 8 in 1:52.3. Tonys Mom (post one, Yannick Gingras listed for trainer Per Engblom) also merits attention as she won a Fillies & Mares Invitational Pace at Yonkers on Feb. 23 and then was second in the race won by Lit De Rose in a subsequent try.
Three more of last year's finalists -- Racine Bell (post one, Jason Bartlett listed for trainer Dave Dewhurst), Incaseyoudidntknow (post three, Andy McCarthy listed for trainer Cory Stratton) and Dougs Babe A (post seven, Dexter Dunn listed for trainer Nifty Norman) -- will compete in Friday's final flight in race nine. Racine Bell also made the 2022 Blue Chip Matchmaker final and came up just a nose short of winning.
The full fields are available below.
$40,000 USD Blue Chip Matchmaker Series - Division 1 (Race 2)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Easy To Please - Jordan Stratton - Cory Stratton
2. Lit De Rose - Jordan Stratton - Mike Lachance
3. Violets Rainbow - Matt Kakaley - Jared Bako
4. Mikayla - George Brennan - Nik Drennan
5. Sale El Sol - Brent Holland - Peter Pellegrino
6. Delitfulcatherin N - Jordan Stratton - Jeffrey Gillis
$40,000 USD Blue Chip Matchmaker Series - Division 2 (Race 4)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Tonys Mom - Yannick Gingras - Per Engblom
2. Treacherous Penny - Scott Zeron - Linda Toscano
3. Karma Seelster - Jordan Stratton - Andrew Adamczyk
4. Delta Three N - Jason Bartlett - Scott Blackler
5. Creme Delight - Yannick Gingras - Michael Burke
6. Jive Dancing A - Jordan Stratton - Tahnee Camilleri
$40,000 USD Blue Chip Matchmaker Series - Division 3 (Race 9)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Racine Bell - Jason Bartlett - David Dewhurst
2. Man Dontforget Me - Jim Pantaleano - Daniel Renaud
3. Incaseyoudidntknow - Andrew McCarthy - Cory Stratton
4. Coachellabound N - Brent Holland - Ricky Bucci
5. Intothemysticmoon - Yannick Gingras - Michael Burke
6. Avf Claire - Brent Holland - Tony Alagna
7. Dougs Babe A - Dexter Dunn - R. Nifty Norman
Preliminary round action in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series will continue through Friday, April 12 with the $125,000 added final on Monday, April 22.
On Tuesday, March 12, the draw for the first leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series for older horses and geldings will take place. The entry box closes at 3 p.m. (EDT).
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)