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

Yonkers, NY — ‘Twas the night before the finals of the George Morton Levy and Blue Chip Matchmaker and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…
…except for Jordan Stratton. The lad had himself a Yonkers Raceway Friday night (April 21), winning a personal-best six races during the 11-race card.

Darragh Riordan photo

Freeze Out takes the evening’s featured event by a very slim margin at Yonkers Raceway on Friday evening.

“I can’t explain it,” Stratton said. “Everything I drove raced very well. It was just one of those nights.”

What made Stratton’s run that much more impressive was there was nary a favorite in sight. He swept the $150 early double with a first-up That’ll Be The Rei ($20.20) in the $23,000, first-race pace (1:53.2) and a down-the-road Mass Balance ($15) in the $27,000, second-race trot (1:57).

After taking the third race off, Stratton struck again in the $27,000, fourth-race pace, this time with a closing Ambro Courage N ($43.40) in 1:54.3.

Win number four came behind a come-from-behind Lease Ness Monster ($32.60), roaring from the back of the bus in the $27,000, fifth-race pace (1:54.4). Stratton was then parked leaving from the eight-hole in the fifth race–backpedaling to last—then won the bob in the night feature.

Then Freeze Out ($15.60) rallied to take the $40,000, seventh-race Filly and Mare Preferred Handicap Pace by a scant schnoz in 1:54.2.

Stratton’s happy-half dozen concluded with Platoon Seelster ($21), who scooped up the $27,000, eighth-race trot (1:57.1) after 3-10 favorite Frost Free Hanover (George Brennan) jumped it off on the lead.

Stratton ended his night finishing fourth, third and second, respectively. Additional props to driver Brent Holland for his hat trick Friday night.

No one took down the Pick-5, so Saturday night’s (April 22) gimmick begins with a carryover of $3,206.32 (50-cent base wager, races 7 through 11).

The Raceway’s seven-figure Saturday includes the sport’s two richest races of the season to date in the $310,600 Blue Chip Matchmaker—8th race (approximate post 9:35 p.m.) and $529,000 George Morton Levy Memorial—10th race (approximate post 10:15 p.m.)

For the full Saturday evening card please click here.