Yonkers Raceway’s Blue Chip Matchmaker Series saw the second of five preliminary rounds go Friday night (March 22).
Four, $40,000 groupings of leading lasses were contested, one fewer than a week ago.
Here’s the basics…
First division — A wide-early Dont Think Twice A (Jason Bartlett, $6) — from post position No. 7 — worked around 3-2 favourite Newborn Sassy (Tim Tetrick), then held that one off through the lane in equal halves (:27.2, :57, 1:25.2, 1:54).
Third went to second-over Kaitlyn N (Matt Kakaley), with Rockstar Angel A (Eric Goodell) and Bettorb Chevron N (Jordan Stratton) picking off the remainder.
For second choice Dont Think Twice A, a six-year-old Down Under daughter of Armbro Operative co-owned by trainer Andrew Harris, Arrhythmic, Pollack Racing and Jeff Cullipher, the win was her first in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $16.40, the triple returned $76 and the superfecta paid $235.50.
"(Dont Think Twice A) is just so handy and smart, a perfect horse for Yonkers,” Bartlett said. “Drive her any way you want to.”
Second division — Apple Bottom Jeans (Corey Callahan, $4.10) became the first lass to ‘double date’ in the Matchmaker. Leapfrogging her seven inside rivals, the just-over-even-money favourite had no issues (:27.3, :56.3, 1:25.1, 1:53.3) en route to a three-length win.
First leader Twinkle (Scott Zeron) could not match strides from the pocket, but saved second. Medusa (Jim Marohn Jr.), Bettors Up (Tetrick) and Write Me A Song (Stratton) rounded out the payees.
“She’s a mare with a lot of class,” Callahan said. “I mean, you can leave with her six weeks in a row, then duck her. When the new owners were thinking about buying her, they asked me what I’d thought, since I’d driven her.
“I told them she might not be the best mare in the country, but she enjoys her work and she’s honest.”
For Apple Bottom Jeans, a six-year-old daughter of Mr Apples co-owned by Ed Gold, Howard Taylor, Thomas Lazzaro & Robert Cooper Stables and trained by Dylan Davis, the win was her fourth in six seasonal starts (two-for-two in series). The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $8.70, the triple returned $98.50 and the superfecta paid $400.50.
Third division — Bettor Joy N (Tetrick, $6.50), who was snapped at the wire as an odd-on choice a week ago, turned the tables here. Second-over from post No. 5, she nailed 3-4 fave Ideal Lifestyle A (George Brennan) by a going-away length in 1:53.4.
The latter, looking to repeat, walked early (:28, :58), then threw down a :27.3 third quarter (1:25.3) trying to lose her rivals.
It did not work.
Gold Orchid N (Bartlett), Caviart Cherie (Joe Bongiorno) and Camera Lady (Kakaley) came away with the remainder.
For second choice Bettor Joy N, a five-year-old Down Under daughter of Bettors Delight co-owned by her escort, Richard Poillucci & Jo Ann Looney-King and trained by Jim King Jr., the win was her second in four ’19 tries. The exacta paid $13.80, the triple returned $35 and the superfecta paid $85.50.
Fourth division — Feelin Red Hot (Brennan, $13.20), from post No. 4, went the distance (:27.4, :57.4, 1:24.2, 1:53.1) to whip a stacked field.
Pole-sitting Obvious Blue Chip (Zeron), at 46-1, photoed a three-move Seaswift Joy N (Marohn Jt.) for second, while 1-2 choice Shartin N (Tetrick) was a brutal-trip fourth, with Delightfulmemphisn (Bartlett) fifth.
Seaswift Joy N also had sorta of fun. Leaving first into a five-hole, then moving into a three-hole ahead of Delightfulmemphisn. Approaching the half, those two were both off the cones, with Shartin N, already in the throes of a rotten, eight-hole sojourn, forced wide.
While all that was happening, Feelin Red Hot was employing the ‘shortest distance between two points’ theory. She had three lengths in and out the final turns before winning by 2-1/4 lengths.
For fourth choice Feelin Red Hot, a six-year-old Feelin Friskie ma’am co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, she’s now four-for-nine this season. The exacta paid $263, the triple returned $1,288 and the superfecta paid $5,036.
Saturday evening’s (March 23) second round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series features six, $50,000 Free-For-All divisions.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)