If there were any questions about Aardie B Miki's talent following her dominant performances in the first two legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, they were answered in a major way in the third round on Friday, April 11 at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
The five-year-old Always B Miki-Tatijana Bromac mare offered a new wrinkle to her resume by racing on the front-end for the first time in North America and winning impressively in a 1:53.1 clocking with driver Jason Bartlett relaxed at the wire.
Four $71,429 divisions of the Blue Chip Matchmaker were held, but Aardie Miki N, now a three-time winner in the series, clearly stamped herself as the one to beat, springing from the starting gate and rolling to the top over first round winner Walkin On Sunshine (Scott Zeron) off the opening bend.
With a :27.3 quarter to settle the field, Bartlett had a very relaxed mare cut fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.2, with Uptown Hanover (Todd McCarthy) offering a mild first-over response on the backstretch but never getting to the wheel of the heavy favourite. On the final turn, Aardie B Miki N kicked in strongly, pacing home in :27.4 to better Walkin On Sunshine by three lengths. Uptown Hanover held on for the show spot.
Owned by M T Stables Ontario Inc. of Scarborough, Ont., Aardie B Miki N is trained by Yonkers' leading conditioner Per Engblom.
As the heavy favourite, Aardie B Miki N paid $2.60 to win with the exacta worth $3.70 and the triple paying $12.
Tarapasta scored her first victory in the series in the evening's opening division in a 1:54.1 clocking with Matt Kakaley driving for trainer Travis Alexander.
Facing just four rivals, Kakaley had Tarapasta, a five-year-old mare by Downbytheseaside out of Pasta Blue Chip, energized from the outside, racing three-wide through the opening turn before securing control through a :27.1 opening quarter. Promiseland A (Jason Bartlett) stretched out the 9-5 second choice while seating Intothemysticmoon (Yannick Gingras) on the first turn.
Kakaley had company rather quickly as 3-5 favourite Millwood Bliss N (Dave Miller) moved well before the quarter on a prolonged bid to secure control. Millwood Bliss N cleared to the top off the second turn and reached the half in :56.3.
Kakaley, sensing the leader was tiring, pulled Tarapasta from the pocket and went right by before three-quarters in 1:25.3. Challenged briefly on the final turn by Promiseland A, Tarpasta strode out to a :28.3 final quarter for an easy score by 2-1/4 lengths. Promiseland A held second with Lydeo (Tim Tetrick) advancing for third.
Tarapasta is owned by Greg Luther Racing of Blacklick, Ohio.
She returned $5.90 to win and keyed a $22.60 exacta and a $178 triple payout.
Rocket Deo bounced back in a big way after failing in the opening legs as the favourite, as Bartlett guided the four-year-old by Captaintreacherous out of former Matchmaker champion Rocklamation from off-the-pace to victory in another division.
The Brett Pelling-trained mare was held in reserve off the early pace as Coachellabound N (Brent Holland) made a second move before the quarter after yielding to Talk Curdy To Me (Todd McCarthy) on the opening bend. Coachellabound N had control in a soft :28.3 opening fraction and was content to hit the half in :57.3 without dispute.
Bartlett put Rocket Deo on the move on the third turn, but she didn't gain much ground on the pacesetter as Coahcellabound N sprinted a third quarter in :27.2 to hit that marker in 1:25, with Talk Curdy To Me briefly coming out of the pocket and forcing Rocket Deo to race three-deep into the final bend.
Coachellabound N briefly got some separation on the final turn, but Bartlett called on Rocket Deo and the 4-5 favourite responded in kind to take control and stroll home to a 1:53.4 victory, her first of 2025. Coachellabound N finished 1-3/4 lengths behind in second with Talk Curdy To Me third.
Rocket Deo, who finished second and third in the previous two legs, is owned by Morrison Racing Stables of Indiana, Pennsylvania and John Fielding of Scarborough, Ont.
She paid $3.80 to win and keyed a $15.80 exacta and a $34.80 triple.
Silk Cloud A was dominant in another division, securing control on the opening turn and leading the rest of the way in a 1:54.3 clocking for driver Jordan Stratton.
Stratton used the quick early burst of Silk Cloud A to clear the front into the opening bend and looped High Flyin Filly (Yannick Gingras), forcing that one to take back. Silk Cloud A put Cheryls Shadow (Brent Holland) in the pocket and led that one through the opening half, with fractions of :27.1 and 57 seconds.
Turn The Page N (Ron Cushing) attempted an uncovered assault on the backstretch, but Stratton and Silk Cloud A were comfortably in control, hitting three-quarters in 1:25.2 and rolling home in a :29.1 final quarter. Cheryls Shadow followed the winner home in second, finishing 1-1/4 lengths behind, with Turn The Page N third.
Silk Cloud A is a seven-year-old daughter of Shadow Play out of Modern Babe. Peter Tritton trains the mare, who was also a winner during the first round of the series, for owners Eric Good of Davidsonville, Maryland and David Kryway of Amherstburg, Ont.
As the favourite, Silk Cloud A returned $3.40 to win and keyed a $17 exacta and a $43.40 triple payout.
The preliminary rounds of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series will continue through Friday, April 25, with the leading point earners advancing to the $200,000 USD final on Friday, May 9.
The third leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series has four $50,000 USD splits on Monday, April 14. Two-for-two For Once Inmy Life is taking the week off, but Mossdale Ben N will try and improve to three-for-three in the event in the final section (race eight).
The prelims of the John Brennan Trotting Series then conclude on Wednesday, April 16 with a trio of $30,000 USD splits in the third round. The series will have a $100,000 USD guaranteed final and $50,000 USD guaranteed consolation on April 23.
Continuing for every Monday and Friday card during the legs of the Borgata and Matchmaker, there will be a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool in race five.
Yonkers Raceway 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)