Yonkers, NY — Lit De Rose and driver Scott Zeron converted on a pocket trip to victory in the first of three $40,000 first-leg divisions of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night (March 15). The veteran Quebec-bred mare has been a constant at Yonkers over the last few years and won for the first time with the combination of Zeron in the bike and Hall of Famer Mike Lachance as the conditioner.

Lit De Rose left from post two at the outset, and Zeron took control of the action late on the opening turn before yielding to Delitfulcatherin N and driver Jordan Stratton off the opening bend. The pace was rapid with an opening panel of :27.3.

Stratton used his advantage to slow the pace to :57.2 by the half, and that got prompted George Brennan to guide 1-2 choice Mikala to the outside on a coverless mission. Delitfulcatherin N picked up the bit and the pace in the third quarter, not allowing the favorite to get close enough with a :27.3 sprint to hit three-quarters in 1:25 with a clear edge. Off the final turn, Mikala weakened enough to give Zeron all the room he would need, and Lit De Rose clearly knew exactly what to do, as she marched on by the pacesetter after angling out to score in 1:53.2. Delitfulcatherin N was a clear second, with Mikala holding off Violets Rainbow for the third spot.

Yonkers mainstay Lit De Rose rolled to a 1:53.2 score in the first round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series. Mike Lizzi photo.

Sent off as the 8-5 second choice, Lit De Rose returned $5.20 to win while keying a $84 exacta, a $136.50 triple and a $33.40 superfecta for a 10-cent wager. Owned by breeder Guy Corbeil, Lit De Rose won for the second time in three starts this year, and with the victory moved within $37,000 of reaching $1 million in career earnings.

Tony’s Mom and Yannick Gingras won the second $40,000 flight, going wire-to-wire from the pole position to a 1:53.4 victory. Tony’s Mom, a 5-year-old by Heston Blue Chip, dissuaded other leavers on the first turn with Gingras guiding her through soft fractions of :28 and :57.2 with the field lined up in post order.

Karma Seelster and Jordan Stratton, the 6-5 second choice, moved with purpose late on the third turn but was kept at a safe distance by the winner as she set a comfortable 1:25.1 three-quarters and appeared to have something in reserve heading into the final bend. Gingras called on the Per Engblom-trained Tony’s Mom in the stretch, and she responded in kind, drawing clear with a :28.3 final quarter. Treacherous Penny, the pocket-sitter from the start, had ample room and was good enough for the place spot, with Karma Seelster holding Crème Delight at bay late for the show.

Owned by Morrison Racing Stables and Brian Gordon, Tony’s Mom won for the third time in six tries this year and returned $3.60 as the public choice while keying an exacta worth $21.20, a triple of $23.40 and a 10-cent superfecta for $3.37.

For three-quarters of a mile, 6-5 favorite Incaseyoudidntknow and driver Andrew McCarthy appeared to be spinning their wheels and going nowhere in the third $40,000 grouping, then the homestretch came and suddenly they turned on the jets and overpowered the field to score in 1:53.3.

Racine Bell had the pole with Jason Bartlett, and they were intent on getting the lead, spurning any ideas that Brent Holland, behind Coachellabound N, or Yannick Gingras, guiding Intothemysticmoon, may have had. Bartlett’s decision to seat his rivals came at a price as Racine Bell hit the opening quarter in a brisk :27.1. Though Bartlett did get control of the second quarter, pacing in just :30, his $1.1 million winner was ripe for the picking in the second half.

Gingras moved first before the half and amped up the pressure on the pacesetter, forcing three-quarters in 1:25 while right on the flank of the 5-2 Racine Bell. McCarthy at this juncture was gapping cover enough to allow Coachellabound N and Holland enough room to squeeze out and inevitably force the favorite into a wider stance.

Racine Bell began to tire late on the final turn, and Gingras seized on the opportunity to push Intothemysticmoon into the lead. Gingras kept his mare going right to the final strides, but McCarthy’s Always B Miki-sired mare found the courage to get up in the final stride. Intothemysticmoon settled for second, with Dougs Babe A late on the scene for third ahead of Man Dontforget Me.

Trained by Cory Stratton for owners James Magno and Joseph Fonte, Incaseyoudidntknow won for the first time in four starts this year. As the public choice, Incaseyoudidntknow returned $4.60 and keyed a $13.40 exacta, $75 triple and $16.35 superfecta for a 10-cent wager. Incaseyoudidntknow pushed her career bank account above $500,000 with the victory.

The Blue Chip Matchmaker prelims continue through April 12 before the $125,000-added final takes place on April 22.

Grand Circuit action at MGM Yonkers Raceway resumes on Monday (March 18) with four $50,000 first-round splits of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series, for horses and geldings, carded as races three, four, six and eight on the 12-race program. Monday’s card will also have a $6,058.90 Pick-5 carryover, and that will also bump the normal $10,000 Monday guaranteed pool in the sequence to $20,000. The guarantee in the Pick-5 is being offered as part of the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances for the Pick-5, courtesy of TrackMaster, will be available here. The Pick-5, which begins in race five, has a takeout rate of 20 percent.

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-through-Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m. (EDT).