by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy series third legs, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers this week features three $40,000 divisions on Friday (April 4) in the third round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Saturday (April 5) card at Yonkers will see four $50,000 divisions in the third round of the George Morton Levy series for open pacers. Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.

Last time: There were four repeat winners in last week’s second leg of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series at Yonkers Raceway. Bettor’s Edge, Foiled Again, Itrustyou and Mach It So each made it two-for-two in the series by capturing their respective $50,000 events on the March 29 card at The Hilltop.

Mike Lizzi photo

Foiled Again and Yannick Gingras were easy winners in a time of 1:53.4.

Foiled Again’s 78th lifetime victory was among his simplest. Leaving from post position No. 4 in the last of the four divisions, Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras), leading a 1-20 Ron Burke-trained troika, had nothing more than a soggy stroll. After fractions of :28.1, :57, 1:25.3 and 1:53.4, Foiled Again found himself getting to the finish line 3-1/4 lengths before his competition. In this case, the closest competition was entrymate Aracache Hanover (Daniel Dube), with Texican N (Brian Sears) third.

For Foiled Again, a 10-year-old Dragon Again gelding, the $25,000 purse check increased his lifetime loot to $6,080,968. Burke co-owns (as Burke Racing) with Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables.

There were a pair of repeat winners in the March 28 second leg divisions of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series as Angel’s Delight and Somwherovrarainbow vaulted to the top of the series standings with impressive victories.

For Angel’s Delight, a 4-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover owned by Joseph Pennacchio and trained by Kevin Carr, it was her sixth win (with four seconds) in 10 seasonal starts. Somwherovrarainbow, a 4-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere trained by Joe Holloway for co-owners Diamond Creek Racing and Ted Gewertz, is now three-for-three this season.

Complete recaps of the weekend races are available at the Grand Circuit website.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2014, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farm is the sponsor for the 2014 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders following the past weekend at Yonkers:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 74; 2. George Brennan – 67.5; 3. Tim Tetrick – 41; 4. Brian Sears – 29; 5. Daniel Dube – 20.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 136.5; 2. PJ Fraley – 45; 3t. Rene Allard – 20; 3t. Joe Holloway – 20; 3t. Kevin Carr – 20.

Owners: 1. Bamond Racing – 37.5; 2t. Burke Racing – 33.7; 2t. Weaver Bruscemi – 33.7; 4. Joe Pennacchio – 20; and 5. M1 Stable – 10.85.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy over the next two weekends. The finals and consolations for both events will be held on April 26.