Yonkers Raceway’s Blue Chip Matchmaker offered up Round 5 on Friday night (April 14), with a pair of $40,000 divisions.
The opening event saw 2-5 fave Bedroomconfessions (Scott Zeron) get looped leaving, then walk home. That scenario was good news for a second-up Mach It A Par (Jason Bartlett, $7.80), who was carried into the race and into the winner’s circle.
After Divas Image (Joe Bongiorno) made the first lead, Bedroomconfessions took over before a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. It was a 57-second intermission before Hidden Land (Tim Tetrick) took out of third. That one disposed of a weak-kneed leader passing a 1:25.4 three-quarters, with Mach It A Par — from post position No. 5 — right behind.
Hidden Land owned a length lead into the land, but the pursuer blew right by. Mach It A Par widened to win by two and a half lengths in 1:53.2.
Divas Image was third after yet another unlucky trip, with Al Raza N (Matt Kakaley) and Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton) rounding out the payees. Bedroomconfessions, back after taking last week off, finished last among the half-dozen, beaten more than a dozen lengths.
For second choice Mach It A Par, a seven-year-old daughter of Mach Three trained by Richard Banca for co-owners D’Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, T L P & Gandolfo Stables, the win was her third in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $27.60, with the triple returning $88.50.
Friday’s second Matchmaker soiree had Krispy Apple (Tetrick) tire badly on the lead for the second consecutive start (:28.1, :56.3, 1:24.2), but not before carrying pole-sitting, 17-10 favourite Regil Elektra (Bartlett, $5.50) into the lane, and into a photographer meet-and-greet.
Regil Elektra whipped a solid, first-over Lispatty (Brian Sears) by a head in 1:53.1, with Shesjustadelight N (Ron Cushing) third, a cone-skimming Medusda (Kakaley) fourth (first four finishers separated by a neck) and Krispy Apple fading to fifth.
Mackenzie A (Stratton) was in the back, threw in steps and never factored.
For Regil Elektra, a seven-year-old Mach Three ma’am owned by Fred Monteleone Stable and trained by Keith Armer, the win was her fifth in nine ’17 tries. The exacta paid $23.80, with the triple returning $90.50.
The final preliminary standings, courtesy of Bob (OUTP) Miecuna, are available here. Note that these do not necessarily represent those horses eligible for the next Saturday’s (April 22) final and consolation. Those determinations shall be made by the race office, with the draw set for Monday afternoon (April 17).
The purse for the final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker has been calculated at $310,600 (sum of added money, nominating and starting fees), pending conformation by those who keep track of such things.
Round 5 of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series goes Saturday night (April 15), with three, $50,000 divisions.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)