Yonkers Raceway’s Blue Chip Matchmaker continued Friday night, with a pair $40,000 divisions comprising the fifth and final preliminary round.
The evening began with Krispy Apple (Jason Bartlett, $7), eschewing an early pocket, then lasting on the lead.
From post position No. 2, she was immediately seated early by Cinamony (Yannick Gingras), but wanted nothing to do with that. She then took over before completing her rounds (:27.4, :56.3, 1:24.2, 1:52.2) for a second consecutive series win.
Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton), as the 3-2 favourite, had left into a three-hole. She elected not to move first-up, then found herself wedged behind a tiring Cinamony. Sell A Bit N did get the passing lane, but not nearly in time to track down Krispy Apple, who -- as the second choice -- prevailed by three-quarters of a length. Carolsideal (Dan Dube), a uncovered winner a week ago, was an uncovered third here.
For Krispy Apple, an eight-year-old Western Ideal ma’am co-owned by Bamond Racing and Joseph Davino and trained by Jeffrey Bamond Jr., she’s now two-for-six this season (two-for-five in series) after her 42st career victory. The exacta paid $20.80, with the triple returning $62.50.
The second event saw a repeating Yagonnakissmeornot (Dube, $5.20) pick off a badly-drifting Mach It A Par (George Brennan).
The latter, victimized by a horrid shuffle-out last week, had no one to blame but herself in this one. From post No. 2, the 13-10 fave worked around “Yagonnakissme” and set tepid intervals (:28.1, :58, 1:26). Mach It A Par opened a couple of lengths entering the lane, but her desire to meet the crowd was about to cost her.
Yagonnakissmeornot, as the second choice, stayed on the straight and narrow to win by a length in 1:53.2. Skippin By (Gingras) was a three-hole third.
For Yagonnakissmeornot, a seven-year-old daughter of The Panderosa trained by Rene Allard for Allard Racing, Yves Sarrazin and Kapildeo Singh, she’s now three-for-six this season (three-for-five in series). The exacta paid $10.80, with the triple returning $57.50.
Note that series points leader (entering this round) Al Raza N was AWOL for the last leg.
Final series standings are available here, though these are not necessarily the qualifiers for the final and consolation. Those shall be determined by the race office as per the conditions of the event.
Saturday night’s card brings the fifth (final) round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series. Three, $50,000 divisions (races five through seven) comprise this last incarnation. Both series finals (and their respective consolations) are set for next Saturday night, April 23.
In advance of next Saturday night’s (April 23) pair of series finals, Yonkers Raceway has announced a special Empire Terrace buffet. For that evening, the Terrace opens at 6 p.m. and offers a last seating at 10 p.m., with a buffet cost of $24.95 per person. For reservations and other information, please call (914) 457-2456.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)