by Frank Drucker, Yonkers Raceway Publicity Director

Yonkers, NY — Blueridge Western, leader in preliminary-round points, drew post position No. 7 for Yonkers Raceway’s $370,000 final of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.

Post time for Saturday night’s 11-race card is 7:10 PM, with the finale of the Levy Series–the sport’s richest race of 2009 to date–going as the ninth race.

The Levy, Yonkers’ premier Free-For-All event, honors the founder of Roosevelt Raceway and a 1996 inductee into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame. It is joined on the card by the $229,000 final of the inaugural Blue Chip Matchmaker.

The Matchmaker, an Open Mare event, is carded as the sixth race on the program.

Blueridge Western, a 4-year-old Allamerican Ingot gelding, authored four wins and a second in his five prelim series starts. However, that resounding resume failed to impress the gods of the open draw, who give him a tough starting venue for the final.

Jason Bartlett retains the assignment for owner Francis Azur and trainer Kevin McDermott. For the season, “Blueridge” has won six of his 14 starts ($146,875). A win or a second in the final makes him a millionaire.

Trainer Ron Burke qualified three for the final. However, since race conditions limit a maximum of two per stable, Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras, post 3) and Lucky Bettor (Greg Grismore, post 5) have the honors. Both entities are co-owned by Burke Racing, JJK Stables and Weaver Bruscemi and shall race as a coupled entry.

Foiled Again, a 6-year-old Dragon Again gelding, enters with three consecutive open-length series wins and four wins in five ’09 tries (an even $100,000). Lucky Bettor, a 5-year-old state-bred Bettor’s Delight gelding, had a pair of wins and a pair of seconds among his five prelim performances. Driver Grismore won the ’07 Levy with Maltese Artist when this series was reborn after an 11-year hiatus.

Psilvuheartbreaker (Jim Meittinis, post 1) and Mighty Young Joe (Stacy Chiodo, post 4) finished in a tie for eighth place after the prelims, and that would have meant a draw by lot to see who raced in the final. However, since Team Burke had three of the horses ahead of these two in the standings, one of Burke’s–Atochia–was the odd horse out.

“Heartbreaker,” a 6-year-old Nobleland Sam gelding trained by Bruce Saunders for owner Frank Bellino, is looking to become a seven-figure career performer. He would get there with a first or second here. “Joe,” a 6-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding trained by Chiodo for her mom, Pamela Jane Menosky, had the biggest preliminary-round surprise…a 15-1 win in Round 4.

Hard-hitters King Cat Anvil N (Jordan Stratton, post 2), Wholly Louy (Stephane Bouchard, post 6) and Real Nice (Bouchard also listed, post 8) complete the octet.

The all-age Yonkers Raceway track record–Silver Almahurst’s 1:50.4–was set in this event 16 seasons ago.

Millionairess Chancey Lady outdrew her seven rivals for the final of the Matchmaker. Cat Manzi escorts the 4-year-old daughter of Camluck for owner Niele Jiwan and trainer Mark Kesmodel. Chancey Lady’s 1:52.2 effort in the first round of this series was the fastest prelim Matchmaker mile.

For the season, she has won four of her 11 starts ($144,425).

Pancleefandarpels (Stratton, post 3) led the lasses in preliminary points, winning thrice. The 5-year-old state-bred daughter of Noble Ability, owned by Peter Pan Stables and trained by Erv Miller, is batting .500 (6-for-12) this season ($126,940).

Western Graduate (Jim Pantaleano, post 4) and Omen Hanover (Eric Abbatiello, post 5) are paired as an Abbatiello-trained, common-ownership (KDM Stables) entry. Each has a series win to her credit, as does Elusive Prey (Bouchard, post 2).

Double Dream N (Brent Holland, post 6), Hannah Isabel (Pat Lachine, post 7) and J K Pure Pearl (Bouchard also listed, post 8) round out the field for the finale.

As an extra perk, the Blue Chip Matchmaker offers three free breedings for the 2010 season–one each to American Ideal, Art Major and Bettor’s Delight–donated by Blue Chip Farms. The winner of the final has first choice of stallions, the second-place finisher has the choice of the two remaining stallions, with third-place getting a breeding to remaining stallion. Please note that any dead-heats with regards to the breedings shall be decided by lot, and Blue Chip Farms has the right of approval of the mares being bred.

A pair of series consolations, worth $100,000 (Levy) and $75,000 (Matchmaker), goes as Saturday night’s fifth and eighth races, respectively.