Harness racing's Grand Circuit action for 2026 will kick off on Friday, March 27 at MGM Yonkers Raceway with four $50,000 USD divisions of the Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series for fillies and mares.
Formerly known as the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, this event has been renamed after McIntyre, who worked at Yonkers Raceway for over 30 years, spending much of that time as personal assistant to former owner Tim Rooney. When MGM took over, she became Racing Manager and was a vital cog in the operation of the track. She retired in 2025.
Defending champion Aardie B Miki N begins the defense of her title from post four in the final split (race five) with Jason Bartlett listed to drive the six-year-old daughter of Always B Miki-Tatijana Bromac for trainer Per Engblom. So far this year, Aardie B Miki N has won three of her six starts, including editions of the local Mares Invitational Pace on Jan. 23 and Feb. 6. She will face the likes of Walkin On Sunshine, who has won both of her starts to date in 2026 and captured two prelims in this series a year ago before she broke stride while leading in the final. Bartlett is also listed to drive the Brett Pelling trainee, who has drawn post six.
The Pelling-trained Rocket Deo heads the first section in the opening race on the program, also getting post six with Bartlett listed. Rocket Deo was a three-time prelim winner in the event in 2025 before she wound up fourth in the final. The five-year-old Captaintreacherous-Rocklamation mare returned to Yonkers last Friday, May 20 and won the Mares Invitational Pace in 1:54 in her season's debut.
Bath Bomb will make her first start of 2026 in the second test (race three) for Engblom, with Andy McCarthy listed to drive the post four starter. A force in the Kentucky Sire Stakes program a year ago, the five-year-old Lather up-Sangaal mare qualified well twice at The Meadowlands coming into this contest. Silk Cloud A was a finalist in this series in 2025 and will aim for her first victory of the year after drawing the inside post for the Tritton tandem of driver Lauren and trainer Peter.
Turn The Page N is another mare who is back after making the final last year with the inside post in the third division (race four) for the driving and training duo of Ron and Heidi Cushing. The seven-year-old Vincent-Sheza Monkee mare has three victories in four outings this year and will meet up against a group that includes the 2025 series runner-up Seaside Diva, who will start from post two with Yannick Gingras listed to drive for trainer Ron Burke.
The full fields are listed below.
Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series Division #1 (Race 1)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Acushla Machree N - Jason Bartlett - Doug Dilloian Jr.
2. Louies Girl N - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom
3. Strutsville - Ridge Warren - Ron Coyne Jr.
4. Square Deal - Scott Zeron - Willard Reynolds Jr.
5. Coachellabound N - Brent Holland - Ricky Bucci
6. Rocket Deo - Jason Bartlett - Brett Pelling
7. Peace Talks - Andy McCarthy - Noel Daley
Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series Division #2 (Race 3)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Silk Cloud A - Lauren Tritton - Peter Tritton
2. Tick A Loch A - Matt Kakaley - Chris Height
3. Cheryls Shadow - Jason Bartlett - Doug Dilloian Jr.
4. Bath Bomb - Andy McCarthy - Per Engblom
5. Fearless Ginger - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
6. Always Bstunning N - Tim Tetrick - Gretchen Athearn
Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series Division #3 (Race 4)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Turn The Page N - Ron Cushing - Heidi Cushing
2. Seaside Diva - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
3. Tarapasta - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
4. Lydeo - Colin Kelly - Doug Dilloian Jr.
5. Millwood Bliss N - Johnathan Ahle - Nifty Norman
6. My Sweet Lily - Dexter Dunn - Nancy Takter
Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series Division #4 (Race 5)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Coastal Babe N - Yannick Gingras - Jared Bako
2. My Red Sea - Colin Kelly - Joe Bongiorno
3. Dougs Babe A - George Brennan - Nifty Norman
4. Aardie B Miki N - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom
5. Elusive A - Austin Siegelman - Rob Harmon
6. Walkin On Sunshine - Jason Bartlett - Brett Pelling
7. Stayingwiththewind - Colin Kelly - Doug Dilloian Jr.
The Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series has five legs in total through April 24 with the $200,000 USD (added) final and $100,000 USD (guaranteed) consolation on Friday, May 8.
Yonkers is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway; photo of 2025 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series champion Aardie B Miki N)