Aardie B Miki N and driver Jason Bartlett captured the first Grade 1 stakes race in North American history, taking the $680,556 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday, May 9 for her fifth straight victory in a time of 1:53.3 over a track rated wet-fast.
As the 1-5 favourite, Aardie B Miki N started from the pole position, but Bartlett had company early as Silk Cloud A (Jordan Stratton) left strongly, as did Rocket Deo (Andy McCarthy). Bartlett yielded to Silk Cloud A but then was in a bind as Scott Zeron took Walkin On Sunshine from the three-hole and was making a quick move to get to the front. Bartlett noticed in enough time to squeeze out with the favourite and secure the lead before the :26.1 opening fraction.
Walkin On Sunshine was chased to gain control of the field into the second turn but paid a price to get there. With an accelerated half of :55.1, Stratton moved once again with Silk Cloud A, followed on the outside by Rocket Deo and Talk Curdy To Me (Todd McCarthy). The pace remained strong as Walkin On Sunshine and Silk Cloud A battled it out through a wicked 1:23.2 three-quarter clocking while virtually on even terms. Rocket Deo was struggling to keep with cover, while at the same time Bartlett didn't appear to have much room from the two-hole.
Late on the final turn, Bartlett was able to knife out of the pocket with Aardie B Miki N just as Silk Cloud A was retreating and blew by the leader with ease. Seaside Diva (Yannick Gingras) had improved position along the pylons, overcoming post eight and having a clear shot at the winner. The 75-1 Seaside Diva made it interesting but settled for second, 1-1/4 lengths behind the winner, with Talk Curdy To Me out-kicking Rocket Deo for the third spot and Turn The Page N (Ron Cushing) coming on late for the final cheque.
"The last place I wanted to be was in the two-hole," said Bartlett following the victory. "I've driven that mare [Walkin On Sunshine] and I know she runs out in the stretch, so I had to make a decision."
Bartlett quick-moved Aardie B Miki N and was more than thrilled by the results.
"She's a pleasure to drive. I'm going to have fun driving her this summer," said Bartlett with a keen eye on major stakes races on her schedule.
Aardie B Miki N is trained by Per Engblom and owned by breeder Mike Tanev's M T Stables Ontario Inc. of Scarborough, Ont. The five-year-old daughter of Always B Miki and Tatijana Bromac is perfect in five starts this year -- all while competing in the Matchmaker Series -- since arriving in North America. The victory increased her seasonal earnings to $482,142.
Aardie B Miki N paid $2.40 to win with the exacta returning $117.50 and the trifecta paying a healthy $1,181.
In the $138,889 Blue Chip Matchmaker consolation, Bartlett guided second choice Cheryls Shadow to a wire-to-wire victory, holding off seven rivals in a 1:53.1 mile.
Cheryls Shadow used the inside draw to her advantage, discouraging leavers while Bartlett allowed her to sprint an opening quarter in :27.2 before taking a hold. With a :57.1 half, favoured Tarapasta (Matt Kakaley) moved on the third turn to challenge but Cheryls Shadow accelerated with a :27.2 third quarter, keeping the favourite stalled on the outside. Cheryls Shadow cruised to victory with High Flyin Filly (Yannick Gingras) following in second and Coachellabound N (Brent Holland) on the scene late for third.
Owned by Kyle Warren of Oceanport, New Jersey and Brian Loman of Champaign, Illinois, the victorious six-year-old Shadow Play-Astrmowin mare is trained by Doug Dilloian Jr.
Cheryls Shadow paid $5.20 to win and keyed a $24.40 exacta and a $73 triple.
Mossdale Ben N gave trainer Peter Tritton and driver Jordan Stratton their second MGM Borgata Pacing Series championship together after a 1:51.2 triumph in the $716,667 final, another Grade 1 stakes at Yonkers.
Tritton and Stratton also captured the 2016 final, when it was known as the George Morton Levy Series, with Bit Of A Legend N.
The 4-5 favourite, Mossdale Ben N, was unhurried in the early stages and watched as Binge On Yankee (Scott Zeron), For Once Inmy Life (Dexter Dunn) and Chase H Hanover (Anthony Napolitano) traded the top spot in the early stages, with Chase H Hanover the last to the top after the :26.4 quarter-mile marker. The outer flow then developed on the second turn as Verdun (Pat Lachance) and Huntinthelastdolar (Yannick Gingras) pulled in front of Mossdale Ben N, briefly putting him three-wide before he settled into a third-over position.
Chase H Hanover hit the half in :55.3 and was able to repel Verdun's first-over attack to three-quarters in 1:23, but Stratton had Mossdale Ben N on a three-wide advance as that clocking went on the board. Mossdale Ben N continued his march on the last turn as Verdun was able to drop into the pocket ahead of a fading For Once Inmy Life, and then Mossdale Ben N overtook Chase H Hanover in the upper part of the stretch. Chase H Hanover was game to the wire and tried to battle back, but Mossdale Ben N hit the wire a length ahead of him. Verdun wound up third, followed by Huntinthelastdolar and Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett).
"With all the discussion [about the early speed in the field], Pete never put any pressure on me," said Stratton. "He said 'whatever I want to do with him.' He had a lot of confidence in me even in the series, racing him a little conservative with our eye on the prize here. This is the race we've been pointing for, so I wasn't just going to sit home and come flying late.
"He was great. His caretaker Smiley [Quinteros], he took care of Bit Of A Legend N, too, and he does a phenomenal job. He's kind of under the radar and doesn't get a whole lot of press, but he's one the best guys I know."
"I thought I was getting too old, but I've still got a couple left in me," joked Tritton while also crediting Quinteros for his work with Mossdale Ben N. "Jordan's always gotten me out of trouble. I get a lot of help from the family and it's great to win for them all."
A seven-year-old gelded son of A Rocknroll Dance out of Mossdale Sue bred in New Zealand by A.G. Affleck, Mossdale Ben N has finished no worse than second in 10 starts this year -- including three wins in the preliminary legs of the Borgata -- while racing in North America and earning $565,462 for owner PJT Investments Inc. of Madison, Connecticut.
Mossdale Ben N paid $3.80 to win and led a $40.60 exacta and a $132 trifecta.
The $138,889 Borgata consolation also went to a Kiwi as Hemsworth N and driver Dexter Dunn followed Why Not Now (Matt Kakaley) from second-over, and despite losing the cover on the final bend, he vaulted past Why Not Now in the lane to tally by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.3. Aardies Flash N (Jason Bartlett) collected third.
Jared Bako trains Hemsworth N, an eight-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou out of In Hollywood, for 1362313 Ontario Ltd. of Windsor, Ont.
Hemsworth N returned $13.40 to win. He keyed a $111 exacta and a $1,197 trifecta.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)