Yonkers Raceway's Blue Chip Matchmaker continued its run Friday night with four $40,000 divisions
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The first event was won by a wrapped-up Shacked Up (Eric Goodell, $2.70) in 1:53.4. Rev Me Up (Yannick Gingras) made the early (:27.2 opening quarter) lead before Shacked Up--away fourth from post position No. 2--eased into the big chair just after a :56-second half.
A leisurely :29.2 third quarter (1:25.2) left the leader with more than enough in reserve. Shacked Up defeated Rev Me Up by a length-and-three-quarters, with Cannae Cammie (Jason Bartlett), Giveittoemstaight (George Brennan) and Up Front Cruiser (Dan Dube) rounding out the finishers/cashers.
For Shacked Up, a millionairess five-year-old daughter of Western Terror trained by Josh Green for Baron Racing and VIP Internet Stables, it was her second win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $5.30, with the triple wagering cancelled due to an abbreviated five-horse field (Headpoles R Us was a judges' scratch).
The evening's second grouping saw 3-10 fave Ginger And Fred (Gingras) employ the same strategy--a move from fourth--that worked for Shacked Up. However, a funny thing happened with that. After pole-sitting All Spirit (Brennan) led through a :28.1 opening quarter, Ginger And Fred--leaving from post No. 5--ambled to the front just past a :56.4 intermission.
A 1:24.3 three-quarters led to a length-and-a-half lead entering the lane. Shortly though, Ginger And Fred's wheels began to wobble, and she was passed by both All Spirit and Hulas Z Tam (Pat Lachance). The former whipped the latter by three-quarters of a length in 1:53, with Ginger And Fred tiring to third. Up Front Kellie Jo (Bartlett) and Run on Luck (Dube) completed the cashers.
For All Spirit, a five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight trained by Mark Ford for owner Larry Lanpher, she returned $9.40 (second choice with entrymate "Kellie Jo") for her first win in four seasonal starts. The exacta paid $30.80, with the triple returning $59.50.
Friday night's third Matchmaker melee was won by a pocket-sitting Ticket To Rock (Dave Miller). The pole-sitter watched as Save My Shark (Jim Pantaleano) led through intervals of :28.1, :57.3 and 1:25.3. Shanghai Lil (Gingras) tried it first-up, with Save My Shark owning a length-and-three-quarter lead turning for home.
Ticket To Rock angled in, winning by a length in 1:53.4. Save My Shark saved second, with "Lil," slight 2-1 choice Symphony In Motion (Jeff Gregory) and Flirtiscape (Brennan) coming away with the remainder.
For Ticket To Rock, a four-year-old Rocknroll Hanover miss trained by Ross Croghan for co-owners Let It Ride Stables, Mentally Stable, Robert Cooper Stables and Jerry Silva, she returned $6.90 (second choice) her second win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $28.60, with the triple returning $116.50.
The final Matchmaker event offered a different look when early choice Anndrovette was a judges scratch. The remaining half-dozen were led by 4-5 favourite Tomorrowpan (Dube), who was pocketed to Park Avenue (Goodell) and was just barely carried into the passing lane.
It was Park Avenue winning the early scrum, leading through flash points of :27.2, :57 and 1:25.3. Breakheart Pass (Gingras)--wide early and on the move again--prompted first-over. Park Avenue slowly disposed of that rival, with Tomorrowpan--leaving from post No. 2--awaiting her turn.
She found the short route in time, defeating Farmers Tuition (Cat Manzi) by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.2. Park Avenue, Twin B Tiara (Pantaleano) and Breakheart Pass grabbed the remainder.
For Tomorrowpan, a five-year-old daughter of No Pan Intended owned by Steve Calhoun of Chatham, Ont. and trained by Casie Coleman, she returned $3.70 for her fifth win in 10 '11 tries. The exacta paid $29.80, with the triple returning $87.50.
Final race Friday props to Grain Of Truth, who snuck up the cones to win the $27,000 trot, becoming harness racing’s newest millionaire. The 10-year-old Self Professed gelding, driven by Gregory for trainer Ray Schnittker and co-owners Charles and Giorgan Iannazzo, is now 61-for-217 lifetime with earnings of $1,004,134. He paid $14, trotting the mile-and-one-sixteenth in 2:03.3.
(Yonkers Raceway)