The last chance for the ladies to impress the judges came Friday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the fifth and final preliminary round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker
.
Three $40,000 divisions went postward, with All Spirit (George Brennan) taking the opening event in 1:54.
Leaving from post position No. 4, she worked out a second-over trip behind Shanghai Lil (Eric Goodell). Ticket To Rock (Dave Miller)--as the 2-5 favourite--led through intervals of :28, :57.3 and 1:26.1, but was hounded by "Lil" and done early stretch. All Spirit, a bit wide off the final turn, nonetheless rolled. She defeated Shanghai Li by a length-and-a-quarter, with Breakheart Pass (Yannick Gingras), Symphony In Motion (Dan Dube), and Ticket To Rock completing the cashers.
All Spirit, a five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight trained by Mark Ford for owner Larry Lanpher, returned $13.60 (slight third choice) for her second (consecutive) win in five seasonal starts. The exacta paid $52.50, with the triple returning $242.50.
Friday night's second Matchmaker melee was a walk around the oval for 2-5 fave Shacked Up (Goodell). The millionairess, leaving from post No. 3, waltzed through weigh stations of :29.1, :58.2, 1:27.1 and 1:55. Hulas Z Tam (Pat Lachance) closed inside to snatch second, beaten. a length-and-a-half, with Giveittoemstaight (Brennan), Rev Me Up (Gingras) and Park Avenue (Jason Bartlett) rounding out the payees.
Shacked Up, a five-year-old daughter of Western Terror trained by Josh Green for co-owners Baron Racing Stable and VIP Internet Stable, returned $2.80 for her third win (second in a row) in nine '11 tries. The exacta paid $8.20, with the triple returning $18.80.
The last of the preliminary races went to another odds-on lass, millionairess in Chancey Lady (Bartlett). Leaving from post No. 2, she took over from Up Front Kellie Jo (Brennan) right at the :27.2 opening quarter.
From there, it was a :56.4 intermission and 1:24.4 three-quarters, before finishing it off in 1:53.1. Ginger And Fred (Gingras) made the leader work for it, challenging first-up from fifth but missing a neck. Up Front Kellie Jo, Cannae Cammie (Cat Manzi) and Twin B Tiara (Jeff Gregory) settled for the scraps.
Former O'Brien Award winner Chancey Lady, a six-year-old Camluck lass owned by Baron Racing Stable and trained by Mark Kesmodel, returned $3.40 for her third win (30th lifetime) in seven seasonal efforts. The exacta paid $6.50, with the triple returning $17 (three wagering choices).
The $301,000 final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker is scheduled for next Saturday night, April 30.
Friday's $37,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by pole assignee T Js Mr Lavec (Bartlett, $5.70), negotiating the mile-and-one-sixteenth in 2:03.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)