Yonkers Friday led by third round of Blue Chip Matchmaker
March 31, 2017,by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — 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.
For Bedroomconfessions, a 5-year-old daughter of American Ideal co-owned as Alagna Racing by trainer Tony Alagna and Riverview Racing, it was her fourth win in seven seasonal starts.
Leaving from post position five, Bedroomconfessions eschewed an early three-hole to take the lead from Krispy Apple (Brett Miller). The favorite held sway (:29.1, :58.2, 1:26.4, 1:55.1), helped out in no small measure when second choice Mach It A Par (Jason Bartlett) violated the shortest distance between two points theory and drifted drastically through the lane.
Bedroomconfesssions took advantage of that detour to win by a nose, with Krispy Apple, Tessa Seelster (George Brennan) and For The Ladies N (Tim Tetrick) rounding out the payees. Throw in an outrun Quick Draft A (Mark MacDonald) and the six-pack finished in ascending parimutuel order.
For Bedroomconfessions, a 5-year-old daughter of American Ideal co-owned as Alagna Racing by trainer Tony Alagna and Riverview Racing, it was her fourth win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $4.80, with the triple returning $8.10.
The second event saw Regil Elektra (Bartlett, $.40) negate her outside post six and last on the lead (:28, :58.2, 1:27.2, 1:56.2). She took over from pole-sitting, 3-2 choice Empress Deo (Matt Kakaley), then found the wire in time, beating a first-over Betabcool N (MacDonald) by a half-length and a from-last Mackenzie A (Jordan Stratton) by a length. Empress Deo and Change The Rulz N (Brennan) settled for the remainder, while a second-over Sandbetweenurtoes (Miller) was last among the six-pack.
For third choice Regil Elektra, a 7-year-old daughter of Mach Three owned by Fred Monteleone Stable and trained by Keith Armer, it was her fourth win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $41.60, with the triple returning $135.
Mike Lizzi photos
For second choice Shesjustadelight N, a 7-year-old Down Under daughter of Bettor’s Delight co-owned by her driver and Kevin Sywyk and trained by Heidi Gibbs, it was her second win in five 2017 tries.
Friday night’s final Matchmaker grouping had Shesjustadelight N (Ron Cushing, $4.70) join Bedroomconfessions and Regil Elektra as two-leg series winners.
Away third from post two, Shesjustadelight N watched as 4-5 favorite Medusa (Kakaley) hopped over Diva’s Image (Joe Bongiorno) and lead the way (:29, :59.4, 1:27.4).
Shesjustadelight N moved to challenge just as Diva’s Image was ending her evening, the former maintaining the momentum to win by a length in 1:56.4. Sell A Bit N (Stratton) couldn’t match strides with her tow but did get into second at 25-1, with Medusa fading to third. Small checkers Lispatty (MacDonald) and Diva’s Image, then a trailing Al Raza N (Bartlett) rounded out the order.
For second choice Shesjustadelight N, a 7-year-old Down Under daughter of Bettor’s Delight co-owned by her driver and Kevin Sywyk and trained by Heidi Gibbs, it was her second win in five 2017 tries. The exacta paid $68, with the triple returning $107.50.
Round Three of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series goes Saturday night (April 1), with four, $50,000 divisions.
- It’s Ladies Night at Yonkers Raceway as Blue Chip Matchmaker begins (Friday, March 17, 2017)
Yonkers Raceway’s Blue Chip Matchmaker for high-end pacing mares began Friday night (March 17), with a trio of $40,000 divisions. The opening event saw odds-on choice Shesjustadelight N (Ron Cushing, $3.60) parlay a perfect pocket trip into a handy, 1:53 victory
- 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 card led by second round of Blue Chip Matchmaker (Friday, March 24, 2017)
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.
- Matchmaker and Levy series third legs set for this weekend at Yonkers (Wednesday, March 29, 2017)
The Grand Circuit at Yonkers this week features three $40,000 divisions on Friday (March 31) in the third round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Saturday (April 1) card at Yonkers will see four $50,000 divisions in the third round of the George Morton Levy series for open pacers.