by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s Blue Chip Matchmaker continued Friday night (April 15), with a pair of $40,000 divisions comprising the fifth and final preliminary round.

Jason Bartlett steered Krispy Apple to a 1:52.2 score in the opening division.

The evening began with Krispy Apple (Jason Bartlett, $7) eschewing an early pocket, then lasting on the lead.

From post position No. 2, she was immediately seated early by Cinamony (Yannick Gingras), but wanted nothing to do with that. She then took over before completing her rounds (:27.4, :56.3, 1:24.2, 1:52.2) for a second consecutive series victory.

Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton), as the 3-2 favorite, had left into a three-hole. She elected not to move first-up, then found herself wedged behind a tiring Cinamony. Sell A Bit N did get the passing lane, but not nearly in time to track down Krispy Apple, who — as the second choice — prevailed by three-quarters of a length. Carolsideal (Dan Dube), an uncovered winner a week ago, was an uncovered third here.

Krispy Apple, an 8-year-old Western Ideal ma’am co-owned by Bamond Racing and Joseph Davino and trained by Jeffrey Bamond Jr. is now two-for-six this season (two-for-five in the series) after her 42st career victory. The exacta paid $20.80, with the triple returning $62.50.

Mike Lizzi photos

Yagonnakissmeornot and Dan Dube won the second division in 1:53.2.

The second event saw a repeating Yagonnakissmeornot (Dube, $5.20) pick off a badly-drifting Mach It A Par (George Brennan). The latter, victimized by a horrid shuffle-out last week, had no one to blame but herself in this one.

From post No. 2, the 13-10 fave worked around Yagonnakissmeornot and set tepid intervals (:28.1, :58, 1:26). Mach It A Par opened a couple of lengths entering the lane, but her desire to meet the crowd was about to cost her. Yagonnakissmeornot, as the second choice, stayed on the straight and narrow to win by a length in 1:53.2. Skippin By (Gingras) was a three-hole third.

Yagonnakissmeornot, a 7-year-old daughter of The Panderosa co-owned as Allard Racing by trainer Rene Allard, Yves Sarazain and Kapildeo Singh, is now three-for-six this season (three-for-six in the series). The exacta paid $10.80, with the triple returning $57.50.

Note that series points leader (entering this round) Al Raza N was AWOL for the last leg.

The final series standings can be found at this link, though these are not necessarily the qualifiers for the final and consolation. Those shall be determined by the race office as per the conditions of the event.

Saturday night’s card brings the fifth and final round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series. Three $50,000 divisions (races five through seven) comprise this last incarnation. Both series finals (and their respective consolations) are set for next Saturday night (April 23).