Yonkers, NY — Lit De Rose and driver Pat Lachance won for the second time in three Blue Chip Matchmaker Series legs on Friday night (March 29), kicking home strongly as the 3-5 choice to capture one of three $40,000 divisions at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Lit De Rose got the perfect trip and scored impressively in his division of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series. Luna De La Rosa Photo.

Off quickly from post five, Lit De Rose settled for the pocket quickly as second choice Tony’s Mom (Yannick Gingras) took advantage of the rail draw and demanded to cut the pace. Tony’s Mom’s first turn speed was quickly reined in by Gingras, who got the Per Engblom-trained mare to the quarter in :28.3 and half in :58.2 and appeared well in control and bound for an upset halfway through the mile.

The complexion changed radically in the third quarter when Crème Delight (George Brennan) went on the offensive, leaving the third turn. Crème Delight moved to even terms with the leader, and that gave Lachance the chance to make a split second decision and seek cover, with Sale El Sol and Jason Bartlett unable to keep up with the first-over challenger.

With three-quarters in 1:26.3, the field began to bunch up on the final bend, but Lit De Rose, now a winner of 49 career races, knew exactly what to do in the stretch and overpowered the field. Crème Delight held on gamely for the place spot with AVF Claire (Brent Holland) sneaking between horses for third ahead of pace-setter Tony’s Mom.

Owned and bred by Guy Corbeil, Lit De Rose is a 9-year-old by Leader Bayama that has now won three times in five starts this year and is just a shade under $12,000 from hitting the US$1 million mark in career earnings. As the 3-5 choice Lit De Rose returned $3.50 to win, keying the $37.20 exacta and $259.50 triple. The 10-cent superfecta returned $31.85.

Delitfulcatherin N (Jordan Stratton) won for the first time in the series after a pair of second-place finishes, going wire-to-wire 1:55.4. Delitfulcatherin N, sent off at 7-2, discouraged leavers, with only Incaseyoudidntknow (Andrew McCarthy) taking a brief surge at the start but electing to tuck in third, while 6-5 favorite Mikala (Brennan) elected to race from the back after starting from post six.

Stratton flaunted his pace-setting, hitting the opening quarter in :28.1 and half in :58.4 without a challenge. Incaseyoudidntknow moved to the outside off the third turn but didn’t advance quickly at all, giving Stratton and Delitfulcatherin N another breather as that pair coasted to three-quarters in 1:28 flat and then put on the accelerator.

Stratton saw his mare kick away by a few lengths as others struggled through a 27.4 final quarter. Incaseyoudidntknow were once again brave in defeat, holding on to the place spot, with Racine Bell (Jason Bartlett) third and Treacherous Penny (Scott Zeron) fourth as the favorite Mikala stayed on the pylons as a non-threat to the wire.

Trained by Jeff Gillis for owner Mark Ford, Delitfulcatherin N, a daughter of Bettor’s Delight, won for the sixth time in 10 starts this year and returned $9 to win. She was atop a $30.80 exacta, $137.50 triple and 10-cent superfecta for $26.15.

In the first $40,000 division Dougs Babe A (Dexter Dunn) rallied from off-the-pace to collar the leaders and score in 1:53.4 for her first win in 2024. The 7-year-old by Western Terror started from the outside post five in the field and went to the back at the outset as Coachellabound N (Gingras) assumed rapid control once the gate opened, advancing to the front on the first turn. Second choice Jive Dancing A (Matt Kakaley) didn’t wait very long and regained control before the :27.4 opening quarter.

It was Jive Dancing A, on the engine from there, leading the four rivals around the track to the half in :56.4. With the pace accelerating past that point, that kept the field aligned until slightly before three-quarters when Karma Seelster and Jordan Stratton pulled from the three-hole and put intense pressure on the pace-setter. Dunn seized the opportunity to draft behind the cover into the final bend as three-quarters was clocked in 1:24.3 and the field separated but by just three lengths.

Jive Dancing A couldn’t handle the onslaught and Karma Seelster (Stratton) gained the top in the stretch, but the lead was short-lived as Dougs Babe A rallied sharply for the decision. Early leader Coachellabound N and Gingras found a slim opening in mid-stretch and rallied for the place, with Karma Seelster settling for third.

Trained by Richard “Nifty” Norman for owners Tom Vassiliou, Nicholas Tallarico and Enzed Racing, Dougs Babe A returned $4.30 as the slight favorite and triggered a $21.20 exacta and $56.00 triple. The victory was win number 20 in 80 career starts for the import that has now finished first, second and third in her three starts in the series.

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

MGM Yonkers Raceway’s stakes action continues on Monday (April 1) with the third leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series. Three $50,000 divisions will be featured on the program. The 2024 edition of the John Brennan Trotting Series joins the stakes slate as well next week, with four $25,000 tilts to get that event underway on Wednesday (April 3).

Live racing takes place at Yonkers on a Monday-Friday schedule with post time each night at 7 P.M. (EDT).