Lit De Rose and driver Scott Zeron converted on a pocket trip to victory in the first of three $54,054 divisions in the first leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night, March 15.
The veteran Quebec-bred mare has been a constant at Yonkers over the last few years and won for the first time with the combination of Zeron in the bike and U.S. Hall of Famer Mike Lachance as the conditioner.
Lit De Rose and Zeron left from post two at the outset and took control of the action late on the opening turn before yielding to Delitfulcatherin N and driver Jordan Stratton off the opening bend. The pace was rapid with an opening panel of :27.3.
Stratton used his advantage to slow the pace to :57.2 by the half and that got driver George Brennan's attention behind 1-2 choice Mikala as he guided the six-year-old mare to the outside on a coverless mission. Delitfulcatherin N picked up the bit and the pace in the third quarter, not allowing the favourite to get close enough with a :27.3 sprint to hit three-quarters in 1:25 with a clear edge.
Off the final turn, Mikala weakened enough to give Zeron all the room he would need and Lit De Rose clearly knew exactly what to do as she marched on by the pacesetter after angling out to score in 1:53.2. Lit De Rose prevailed by a nose over Delitfulcatherin N, with Mikala holding off Violets Rainbow and Matt Kakaley for the third spot.
Owned by breeder Guy Corbeil of Mirabel, Que., Lit De Rose was a winner for the second time in three starts this year. The victory was the 48th lifetime for the millionaire daughter of Leader Bayama.
Sent off as the 8-5 second choice in the field, Lit De Rose returned $5.20 to win while keying a $84 exacta, a $136.50 triple and a $33.40 superfecta for a 10-cent wager.
Tonys Mom and Yannick Gingras got favourites on the board in the second division, going wire-to-wire from the pole position to a 1:53.4 victory.
Tonys Mom, a five-year-old mare by Heston Blue Chip, dissuaded other leavers on the first turn with Gingras able to guide her to soft opening fractions of :28 and :57.2 with the field lined up in post order.
Karma Seelster and Stratton, the 6-5 second choice in the field, moved with purpose late on the third turn but was kept at a safe distance by the winner as she set a comfortable 1:25.1 three-quarters and appeared to have something in reserve heading into the final bend.
Gingras called on the Per Engblom-trained Tonys Mom in the stretch and she responded in kind, drawing clear with a :28.3 final quarter. Treacherous Penny, the pocket-sitter from the start with Zeron in the bike, had ample room and was good enough for the place spot one length behind, with Karma Seelster holding Creme Delight and Brennan at bay late for the show.
Owned by Morrison Racing Stables and Brian Gordon, Tonys Mom was winner for the third time in six tries this year. Her 18th career win sent her bankroll over the $300,000 mark.
She returned $3.60 as the public choice while keying an exacta worth $21.20, a triple of $23.40 and a 10-cent superfecta for $3.37.
For three-quarters of a mile, 6-5 favourite Incaseyoudidntknow and driver Andrew McCarthy appeared to be spinning their wheels and going nowhere in the third grouping, then the homestretch came and suddenly they turned on the jets and overpowered the field to score in 1:53.3.
Racine Bell had the pole with Jason Bartlett and they were intent on getting the lead, spurning any ideas that Brent Holland, behind Coachellabound N, or Gingras, guiding Intothemysticmoon, may have had. Bartlett's decision to seat his rivals came at a price as Racine Bell hit the opening quarter in a brisk :27.1. Though Bartlett did get control of the second quarter, pacing in just 30 seconds, his $1.1 million winner was ripe for the picking in the second half.
Gingras moved first before the half and amped up the pressure on the pacesetter, forcing three-quarters in 1:25 while right on the flank of the 5-2 Racine Bell. McCarthy at this juncture was gapping cover enough to allow Coachellabound N and Holland enough room to squeeze out and inevitably force the favourite into a wider stance.
Racine Bell began to tire late on the final turn and Gingras seized on the opportunity to push Intothemysticmoon into the lead. Gingras kept his mare going right to the final strides, but McCarthy's Always B Miki mare found the courage to get up in the final stride, winning by a nose. Intothemysticmoon settled for second, with Dougs Babe A and Dexter Dunn late on the scene for third ahead of Man Dontforget Me and Jim Pantaleano.
Trained by Cory Stratton and owned by James Magno and Joseph Fonte, Incaseyoudidntknow was a winner for the first time in four starts this year. A career winner of more than a half-million dollars, she made her 31st trip to the winner's circle.
As the public choice, Incaseyoudidntknow returned $4.60 and keyed a $13.40 exacta, $75 triple and $16.35 superfecta for a 10-cent wager.
The Blue Chip Matchmaker preliminary legs continue through Friday, April 12 before the $125,000 USD added final takes place on Monday, April 22.
Grand Circuit action at Yonkers resumes on Monday night, March 18 with four divisions of the first round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series for horses and geldings in races three, four, six and eight on the 12-race program. Monday's card will have a $6,058.90 Pick 5 carryover and that will also bump the normal $10,000 Monday guaranteed pool in the sequence to $20,000. The guarantee in the Pick 5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick 5 will be available on trackmaster.com. The Pick 5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20 per cent.
Yonkers is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)