Yonkers’ Friday card led by second round of Blue Chip Matchmaker
March 24, 2017,by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s Blue Chip Matchmaker offered up Round Two Friday night (March 24), with another trio of $40,000 divisions for top-flight pacing mares.
The opening event saw Empress Deo (Matt Kakaley, $25) get encouraged to leave the gate, then trip out from the pocket to pick off Shesjustadelight N (Ron Cushing) at the wire in 1:54. Diva’s Image (Joe Bongiorno), as the just-over-even-money favorite, was third.
Chris Brokate photo
Bedroomconfessions make quick work of her rivals in the swiftest division of the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at Yonkers Raceway on Friday evening.
From post position five, Empress Deo left to an immediate lead, then relented to pole-sitting Shesjustadelight N at a :27.2 opening quarter-mile. After a soft :56.4 half, series-debuting Sandbetweenurtoes (Brett Miller) tried it first-up from fifth. She didn’t threaten as ‘Delight’ led comfortably in and out of a 1:26 three-quarters, up a 1-1/4 entering the lane.
A week ago, it was Empress Deo cutting the fractions and Shesjustadelight N beating her from behind. It was turnabout and fair play this time around, with Empress Deo ducking inside and getting the decision by a head. Diva’s Image was beaten a length, with Lispatty (Mark MacDonald) and Sandbetweenurtoes rounding out the payees.
For fourth choice Empress Deo, a 6-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover owned by Legacy Racing of Delaware and trained by Wayne Givens, it was her first win in 10 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $71, with the triple returning $146.
Friday night’s second Matchmaker grouping saw Mackenzie A (Jordan Stratton, $6.80) win both the draw and the race (1:53.2).
Giving it up early to Wrangler Magic (Dube), Mackenzie A then played a game of Ladies Leapfrog, making the lead just after a :28.2 opening quarter-mile. It was an equally-time second substation (:56.4 intermission), then Betabcool N (Mark MacDonald) moved from fifth.
Mackenzie A was comfy through a 1:24.4 three-quarters as the miss opened a couple of lengths into the lane. She held off a good effort from Wrangler Magic, winning by a half-length. Betabcool N held third, with a from-last, 79-1 Medusa (Kakaley) and a never-in-it, 9-10 fave Mach It A Par (Jason Bartlett) settling for the minors.
For Mackenzie A, a 5-year-old Down Under daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven co-owned by Harry von Knoblauch & Ellen Kinser and trained by Peter Tritton, it was her first win in four seasonal/North American starts. The exacta paid $36.40, with the triple returning $205.
The second round’s final foray offered the fastest female, as it did a week ago. This time, it was odds-on Bedroomconfessions (Scott Zeron, $2.90) giving nothing else a shot (:27.3, :57, 1:25.2, 1:52.3).
Leaving from the pylons, Bedroomconfessions toured the terrain with the ease of a qualifier. She stuffed Krispy Apple (Miller) in behind at the outset, then did as she pleased. The lead was three lengths in and out of the final turn and 3-1/4 lengths at the wire.
Regil Elektra (Bartlett) was a solid, two-move second, with Kiwis Sell A Bit N (Stratton) and Change The Rulz N (George Brennan) earning the rest of the reward money.
For Bedroomconfessions, a 5-year-old statebred daughter of American Ideal co-owned as Alagna Racing by trainer Tony Alagna and Riverview Racing, it was her third win in six ’17 starts. The exacta paid $6.20, with the triple (three wagering favorites in order) returning $12.40.
“She’s a big horse, but she gets around a half (-mile track) so well,” Zeron said. “They never tried her much on the small tracks before this season, but she’s faster in these turns then she is in the straightaway. The race couldn’t have been easier. Everyone else was happy to line up behind us. Never showed her the whip, never pulled the plugs.”
- Matchmaker, Levy legs once again in Grand Circuit spotlight (Tuesday, March 21, 2017)
The Grand Circuit at Yonkers this week features three $40,000 divisions on Friday (March 24) in the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Saturday (March 25) card at Yonkers will see four $50,000 divisions in the second round of the George Morton Levy series for open pacers.
- Shesjustadelight N seeks to double her pleasure in Blue Chip Matchmaker (Thursday, March 23, 2017)
In this business, it’s very rare that even the most carefully constructed strategies actually yield results, but the machinations of Ron Cushing, Kevin Sywyk and Heidi Gibbs have produced an incredible amount of joy and satisfaction with the purchase of the New Zealand-bred mare Shesjustadelight N.
- Bamond trainees bring experience to Blue Chip Matchmaker and Levy (Thursday, March 23, 2017)
Since taking over the training of his father’s Bamond Racing Stable, two years ago, Jeff Bamond Jr. has reached the sport’s greatest heights. His starters have won a host of Grand Circuit stakes across the country and have achieved overnight success at Yonkers Raceway; last year, Bamond finished fourth in the Yonkers trainer standings with 98 victories and $2,118,162 in purses earned. Despite his success, the 32-year-old maintains a humble attitude.
- Yonkers Friday led by third round of Blue Chip Matchmaker (Friday, March 31, 2017)
Yonkers Raceway’s Blue Chip Matchmaker offered up Round Three Friday night (March 31), with another trio of $40,000 divisions for quite superior—and quite soggy—pacing mares fighting a persistent, wind-driven rain. The third round’s first division saw Bedroomconfessions (Scott Zeron, $3.80) repeat as an odds-on winner. Regil Elektra and Shesjustadelight N joined her as two-time series leg winners.