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

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway’s Blue Chip Matchmaker offered up Round Four Friday night (April 7), with a pair of $40,000 divisions. This penultimate preliminary event offered a different look, notably one less grouping as some of the marquee competitors in co-leader Bedroomconfessions and third-place lass Regil Elektra, took the week off.

Chris Brokate photo

For fourth choice Lispatty, a 4-year-old daughter of McArdle trained by Gilberto Garcia-Herrera for owner Gilbert Garcia-Owen, it was her first win in seven seasonal starts.

The opening event saw the millionairess formerly known as Krispy Apple (Brett Miller) cave off some very tepid fractions of :27.1, :57.1, 1:25.2. It was only she and Wrangler Magic (Dan Dube) leaving from their respective outer venues, but neither was involved in the outcome.Lispatty (Jason Bartlett, $13.80) earned the decision over a squeezing-through, 36-1 Diva’s Image (Joe Bongiorno) in 1:55.

The winner, from post position three, improved inside down the backside as 17-10 fave Betabcool N (Mark MacDonald) and second choice Tessa Seelster (George Brennan) both left the cones and were essentially devoid of pace. It was Krispy Apple owning a 1-3/4 length lead in the lane, but she was done. Lispatty angled out, then prevailed by three-quarters of a length. Wrangler Magic lasted for third, Hidden Land (Tim Tetrick) and Betabcool N (Mark MacDonald) settling for the remainder while Krispy Apple retreated to seventh

For fourth choice Lispatty, a 4-year-old daughter of McArdle trained by Gilberto Garcia-Herrera for owner Gilbert Garcia-Owen, it was her first win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $182.50, with the triple returning $1,594.

Friday’s second Matchmaker soiree had Medusa (Matt Kakaley, $11.20) do what Krispy Apple could not…finish what she started as she established fractions of :28.1, :57.3, 1:25.1, 1:53.3.

From post four, Medusa seated longshot Empress Deo, then never had an anxious moment. The pocket-sitter gave way by the three-quarters, with Mackenzie A (Jordan Stratton) taking up the chase. That chase left her a 1-1/4 lengths in arrears at the wire, the same distance in front of a non-threatening 3-4 choice Mach It A Par (Bartlett). Empress Deo and Shesjustadelight N (Ron Cushing) settled for the minors.

For third choice Medusa, a 6-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight co-owned by Randy Bendis and Tom Pollack and trained by Andy Federico Jr., it was her fifth win in 13 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $29.40, the triple returned $60 and the superfecta paid $390.

Round Four of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series goes Saturday night (April 8), with three, $50,000 divisions.