by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — A pair of Yonkers Raceway series intersect Friday night, March 26, with the opening round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and the second round of the Petticoat highlighting the dozen-race dossier.

The Matchmaker, featuring 21 of the finest pacing mares in training, opens with a trio of $40,000 divisions (races 8, 9 and 11).

Shanghai Lil, winner of last season’s $364,430 Lady Maud Pace, returns here for her 2010 pari-mutuel debut. She drew post position No. 6 in the first grouping, one of five entrants in the round trained by Mark Ford.

The second Blue Chip Matchmaker includes On The Glass (post 2) — winner of her last two local Open Handicap efforts and 5-for-8 this season. McGibson (post 4), winner of the ’09 edition of Yonkers’ Hopeful Pacing Series, is back after a form spree at the Meadows. Call Me Yours (post 6) was a solid, first-up winner in last week’s distaff derby.

Friday night’s final Matchmaker get-together finds Ramona Disomma (post 6), fresh off her win in the $115,000 final of Meadowlands’ Overbid Series last week. Ginger And Fred, tiring favorite in that race, drew the pylons in this race.

The Petticoat, a series for 3- and 4-year-old fillies and mares, attracted four $12,500 second-round events. Soph Rev Me Up, who easily won the final of the Hopeful earlier this month, whipped her elders in Round 1 of this series a week ago. She drew post No. 3 in the final (sixth race) division.

Stakes action continues Saturday night, March 27, with the opening round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series as well as Round 2 of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series.