by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, the Grand Circuit

This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy series fourth legs, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers this week features three $40,000 divisions on Friday (April 8) in the fourth round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Saturday (April 9) card at Yonkers will see four $50,000 divisions in the fourth round of the George Morton Levy series for open pacers.

Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.

Last time: Yonkers Raceway’s Saturday night (April 2) brought with it the third round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series. Four $50,000 divisions featured something for everyone, as in a pair of series hat tricks, a Ron Burke double, the fastest local mile of the season and a locally-debuting Harness Horse of the Year.

Let’s start with apropos props for the series co-leaders, with Bit Of A Legend N (Jordan Stratton, $12.80) winning from an impossible locale and Take It Back Terry (George Brennan, $4.10) going down the road.

Mike Lizzi photo

Bit Of A Legend N found some room between rivals, then whipped Phil Your Boots by a half-length in 1:51.2.

The former, stuck behind the eight-ball, found himself last turning for home in the second division. Instead of fanning widest, Stratton found some room between rivals, then whipped Phil Your Boots by a half-length in 1:51.2. Fourth choice Bit Of A Legend N, a 7-year-old Down Under son of Bettor’s Delight owned by Harry von Knoblauch and trained by Peter Tritton, has won five of his six North American starts.

As for favored Take It Back Terry, he did his damage from post position No. 4 in the final division, holding off pocket-prowling Mach It So by a half-length in 1:51.4. Take It Back Terry, a 7-year-old Western Terror gelding co-owned as Burke Racing by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Phil Collura, won his third race in four seasonal starts.

Burke’s first win of the Levy evening came when All Bets Off (Matt Kakaley, $17.60) bottomed out his foes in 1:51.3. From post No. 6, he gave himself enough separation to whip a storming home Wiggle It Jiggleit (Montrell Teague) by a length. Wiggle It Jiggleit, stuck seventh (from post No. 7) until the backside the second time, unleashed a torrid wide move but couldn’t get to the winner in a very good local debut. Fourth choice All Bets Off, a 5-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight co-owned as Burke Racing by trainer Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Panhellenic Stable, is now two-for-five this season.

The evening’s first division found Santa Fe Beachboy (Jason Bartlett, $15.20) go up and over pole-sitting, pace-setting Bettorever, then whip him by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:50.2, fastest eight furlongs of the local season. Fourth choice Santa Fe Beachboy, a 6-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere owned by Santa Fe Stable and trained by Richard Banca, is now two-for-seven this season.

Yonkers Raceway’s Blue Chip Matchmaker continued Friday night (April 1). Three compacted, $40,000 legions of lasses comprised a ‘sloppy’ third of five preliminary rounds and driver Jordan Stratton found his way to the winner’s circle in each of the divisions.

For The Ladies N ($40.40) won the first division in 1:53.1. The longest shot on the board — from post position No. 5 — won by a neck over Regil Elektra. For The Ladies N, a 7-year-old Down Under daughter of Jereme’s Jet owned by Harry von Knoblauch and trained by Peter Tritton, is now one-for-five this season.

Friday’s second Matchmaker event had owner, trainer and driver double-up with Sell A Bit N ($7.10), who herself made it a series two-fer. Negating her outside six-hole, the second choice worked around Skippin By, then laid down the law in 1:53. Sell A Bit N won by 1-1/4 lengths, with Venus Delight second and Skippin By third. Sell A Bit N, a 6-year-old Down Under daughter of Julius Caesar, is now two-for-six this season.

The evening’s final series soiree saw Stratton and just-over-even-money Al Raza N ($4.10) complete an evening/series hat trick, respectively. Al Raza N moved widest in the lane and defeated the lass on her back, Mach It A Par, by a half-length in 1:53. For Al Raza N, a 6-year-old Down Under daughter of Gotta Go Cullect owned by Durazzano Stable and trained by Agostino Abbatiello, it was her fourth win in five starts.

Complete recaps of the weekend races are available at the Grand Circuit website.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2016, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farm is the sponsor for the 2016 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders following the past weekend at Yonkers:

Drivers: 1. Jordan Stratton – 102; 2. George Brennan – 79; 3. Jason Bartlett – 51; 4 Matt Kakaley – 36; 5t. Daniel Dube – 34; 5t. Tim Tetrick – 34.

Trainers: 1. Peter Tritton – 70; 2. Ron Burke – 66; 3. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 61; 4. Andrew Harris – 37; 5. Agostino Abbatiello – 30.

Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch – 70: 2. Bamond Racing – 35.5; 3. Durazzano Stable – 30; 4. West Wins Stable – 20; 5t. Burke Racing Stable – 18.20; 5t. Weaver Bruscemi – 18.20.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with the final preliminary leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy next weekend. The finals and consolations for both events will be held on April 23.