The fourth of five preliminary rounds of the Blue Chip Matchmaker highlighted Yonkers Raceway's Friday night fare, with three $40,000 divisions of pacing mares in play
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The first event saw pole-sitting Little Mermaid N (Jim Pantaleano) elect to sit pocketed to rank outsider Shes a Fan (Brandon Simpson), then live to tell about it.
Little Mermaid N, carried to the lane after fractions of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:25, ducked inside. She prevailed over a pair of closers, 17-10 favourite Ramona Disomma (Greg Grismore) and a first-up Fleur De Lil A (Mike Vanderkemp). Little Mermaid N beat "Ramona" by a neck in a life-best 1:53.3.
For Little Mermaid N, a six-year-old Road Machine Down Under miss trained by Ettore Annunziata for owner Michael Spaccarelli, she returned $11.20 (fourth choice) for her third win in 14 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $52, with the triple returning $109.50.
The middle grouping saw 1-5 puny proposition On The Glass (Bartlett) earn half the pot for a public workout.
Unchallenged from the pylons, On The Glass toyed with her rivals through waltzing weigh stations of :29, :58.4 and 1:27.2, whipping Shanghai Lil (Stephane Bouchard) by a couple of lengths in 1:54.3. McGibson (Jordan Stratton) was third. In fact, the six mares finished in post position order.
For On The Glass, a four-year-old daughter of Art Major trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Joe DiScala and Cynthia Lynn Masari, she returned $2.40 for her seventh win in a dozen seasonal starts. The exacta paid $4.70, with the triple retuning $8.40.
The rain hit town for the third Matchmaker event, which featured the seasonal debut of double millionairess Southwind Tempo (Cat Manzi). That one, starting outside her five rivals, circled wide around a non-existent outer tier, picking off all mares except one. Symphony In Motion (Jeff Gregory) stuffed 17-10 fave Ubetterthink Think (Simpson) into an early pocket, then made every step (:28, :57.4, 1:25.3, 1:54.3) a winning one.
Soutnwind Tempo did get into second, though beaten 4-1/4 lengths, with Ubetterthink Think third.
For Symphony In Motion, a six-year-old Bettors Delight miss trained by Mark Harder for co-owners Joe Jannuzzelli and Carol Demarch, she returned $6.80 (second choice) for her fifth win in 12 '10 tries. The exacta paid $51, with the triple returning $164.50.
Friday night's usual pair of $32,000 co-features--this week a Filly and Mare Open Pace and an Open Handicap Trot--were won by Cuz She Can (Bouchard, $8.30) in 1:54.2, and Bad Boy Billy (Jim Meittinis, $38) in a life-best 1:57.2.
Effective this week, the Raceway added Wednesday nights to its live schedule and eliminate Thursday nights. First post for all programs (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) remains at 7:10 p.m.
(Yonkers Raceway)