Yonkers, NY – Harness racing’s Grand Circuit action for 2026 kicks off on Friday (March 27) night at MGM Yonkers Raceway with four $50,000 divisions of the Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series for fillies and mares.
Formerly known as the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, this event has been renamed after McIntyre, who worked at Yonkers Raceway for over 30 years, spending much of that time as personal assistant to former owner Tim Rooney. When MGM took over she became Racing Manager and was a vital cog in the operation of the track. She retired in 2025.
Defending champion Aardie B Miki N begins the defense of her title from post four in the final split (race five) with Jason Bartlett listed to drive the daughter of Always B Miki for trainer Per Engblom. So far this year Aardie B Miki N has won three of her six starts, including editions of the local F&M Invitational Pace on January 23 and February 6. She faces the likes of Walkin On Sunshine (post six, Bartlett also listed to drive for trainer Brett Pelling), who has won both of her tries to date in 2026 and captured two prelims in this series a year ago before she broke while leading in the final.
Rocket Deo (post six, Bartlett listed to drive for Pelling) heads the first section in the opening race on the program. Rocket Deo was a three-time prelim winner in the event in 2025 before she wound up fourth in the final. She returned to Yonkers last Friday (May 20) and won the F&M Invitational Pace in 1:54.
Turn The Page N (post one, Ron Cushing listed to drive for Heidi Cushing) is another mare who is back after making the final last year. Turn The Page N has three victories in four outings this year and will meet up against a group that includes 2025’s series runner-up Seaside Diva (post two, Yannick Gingras listed to drive for trainer Ron Burke).
Bath Bomb (post four, Andy McCarthy listed to drive for Engblom) makes her first start of 2026 in the third test (race three). A force in the Kentucky Sire Stakes program a year ago, Bath Bomb qualified well twice at the Meadowlands coming into this contest. Silk Cloud A (post one, Lauren Tritton listed to drive for Peter Tritton) was a finalist in this series in 2025 and will aim for her first victory of the year.
The full fields are as follows:
Division #1 – Race 1; PP-Horse-Listed Driver-Trainer
1-Acushla Machree N-Jason Bartlett-Doug Dilloian Jr.
2-Louies Girl N-Jason Bartlett-Per Engblom
3-Strutsville-Ridge Warren-Ron Coyne Jr.
4-Square Deal-Scott Zeron-Willard Reynolds Jr.
5-Coachellabound N-Brent Holland-Ricky Bucci
6-Rocket Deo-Jason Bartlett-Brett Pelling
7-Peace Talks-Andy McCarthy-Noel Daley
Division #2 – Race 3; PP-Horse-Listed Driver-Trainer
1-Silk Cloud A-Lauren Tritton-Peter Tritton
2-Tick A Loch A-Matt Kakaley-Chris Height
3-Cheryls Shadow-Jason Bartlett-Doug Dilloian Jr.
4-Bath Bomb-Andy McCarthy-Per Engblom
5-Fearless Ginger-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
6-Always Bstunning N-Tim Tetrick-Gretchen Athearn
Division #3 – Race 4; PP-Horse-Listed Driver-Trainer
1-Turn The Page N-Ron Cushing-Heidi Cushing
2-Seaside Diva-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
3-Tarapasta-Matt Kakaley-Travis Alexander
4-Lydeo-Colin Kelly-Doug Dilloian Jr.
5-Millwood Bliss N-Johnathan Ahle-Nifty Norman
6-My Sweet Lily-Dexter Dunn-Nancy Takter
Division #4 – Race 5; PP-Horse-Listed Driver-Trainer
1-Coastal Babe N-Yannick Gingras-Jared Bako
2-My Red Sea-Colin Kelly-Joe Bongiorno
3-Dougs Babe A-George Brennan-Nifty Norman
4-Aardie B Miki N-Jason Bartlett-Per Engblom
5-Elusive A-Austin Siegelman-Rob Harmon
6-Walkin On Sunshine-Jason Bartlett-Brett Pelling
7-Stayingwiththewind-Colin Kelly-Doug Dilloian Jr.
The Ursula McIntyre Pacing Series has five legs in total through April 24 with the $200,000 (added) final and $100,000 (guaranteed) consolation on Friday, May 8.
In other news from Yonkers, starting with the draw for Monday, March 30 (entry box closes at 3 p.m. on March 24) all overnight purses will increase at least 10%, with some lower classes seeing an increase of more than 15%. For example, the purse for $15,000 claimers will be bumped from $12,000 to $15,000. The top Invitational races will now go for $39,000.
The purse increase is being made in conjunction with the SOA of New York.
“We always want to do what we can to support our lower-class horses,” said Race Secretary Joe Frasure Jr. on the reason some classes received larger increases.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m.