Yonkers, NY — Mikala, driven by George Brennan, marched to the front past the quarter and never looked back on the way to her second victory in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, scoring as the favorite in the first of two $40,000 fourth-leg divisions on Friday (April 5) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Coachellabound N and Yannick Gingras sprinted from the gate to take control over True Blue Hanover on the first turn and had command until Brennan unleashed Mikala, a daughter of Always B Miki, before the quarter pole with a burst of speed to clear the front past the snappy :27.3 opening fraction. Mikala looked relaxed but was pacing strongly through the half in :56.3 and continued to speed down the pike. A :27.4 third quarter brought her to three-quarters in 1:24.2 and left second choice Dougs Babe A, who was first-over with Dexter Dunn, at a disadvantage heading into the final turn.

Gingras pulled with Coachellabound N on the final turn and appeared ready to threaten the favorite, but Brennan called on Mikala through the stretch and the mare hung on gamely to score by a neck in 1:53. Coachellabound N settled for second, with Dougs Babe A closing the margin through the stretch but finishing third.

Mikala held her ground to win the first of two fourth-leg divisions of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series. Mike Lizzi photo.

Trained by Nik Drennan, Mikala is owned by Joseph Davino, Brad Shackman, Anthony Perretti Farms and Drennan Stable LLC. As the favorite, she returned $4.20 to win.

In the second Blue Chip Matchmaker section, Jason Bartlett and Racine Bell pulled a mild upset, winning for the first time in 2024 while gamely holding odds-on favorite Lit De Rose at bay after a thrilling stretch drive.

Bartlett left with intent from post four and seated Man Dontforget Me late on the opening turn. Delitfulcatherin N and Jordan Stratton also tried to leave but were forced to wedge into a four-hole off the first turn and wait to move again later. Bartlett had Racine Bell on the front in a :27.3 opening quarter, but he applied the brakes in the second quarter and that got some of the back a bit antsy. Prior to the :57.1 half-mile fraction, Stratton pulled Delitfulcatherin N to the outside as a cue to Lit De Rose and Pat Lachance, though Lachance didn’t appear keen on moving too early.

Past the half, Racine Bell picked up the pace and Lit De Rose went on with a solid challenge, moving towards the leader. Delitfulcatherin N didn’t have the sprinting power to keep with her cover on the backstretch, and that allowed Easy To Please to gain second-over cover right before Racine Bell hit three-quarters in 1:25.2.

In the stretch, it was a two-mare contest as Racine Bell fought on the inside and Lit De Rose challenged to her flank but was unable to pass, losing in a tight photo in 1:54.3. Easy To Please gained slowly in the stretch to secure the third spot.

Owned by Chris and Dale Lawton and trained by David Dewhurst, Racine Bell was a winner for the 38th time in her storied career. As the second choice, Racine Bell returned $9.70 to win.

A 7-year-old New York-sired daughter of So Surreal, Racine Bell increased her career bankroll to $1,195,499 with the victory.

The fifth and final preliminary leg for the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series is slated for next Friday (April 12), with the $125,000-added final going on April 22.

Stakes action at MGM Yonkers Raceway continues on Monday night (April 8) with the fourth leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series offering three $50,000 divisions on the 12-race program. After a delay due to the cancelation on Wednesday (April 3), the John Brennan Trotting Series also begins next week with five $25,000 opening-round splits on Wednesday night’s (April 10) card.

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