by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Round Two of Yonkers Raceway’s Blue Chip Matchmaker Series led the Friday (April 2) frolics, with three $40,000 divisions for pacing mares.

Fleur de Lil A (Mike Vanderkemp, $26) upset in the first division as the sixth choice, proving more than ready for her first pari-mutuel start since mid-December. The 7-year-old Down Under Armbro Operative lass picked off dueling favorites McGibson (Jordan Stratton) and On The Glass (Jason Bartlett).

Tom Berg photo

Fleur de Lil A won the fastest of the three Blue Chip Matchmaker divisions as she scored in 1:53.3.

Leaving from post position No. 2, Fleur de Lil A angled out and measured off, winning by a half-length in 1:53.3. Noel Daley trains for owner Luke McCarthy. On The Glass won the battle but lost the war, getting second over McGibson. The exacta paid $136.50, with the triple returning $466.50. The winner shares the track record (1:52.3) for aged pacing mares, taken last July.

Ubetterthink Think (Brandon Simpson) doubled her series pleasure, once again beating the gate and beating her rivals. Leaving from post No. 5 — after an inside defection — Ubetterthink Think took advantage of a fumbly-gaited favorite in Go On BB (Bartlett), then went to the second division house in 1:55. Ramona Disomma (Greg Grismore) rallied to grab second, beaten a length and three-quarters, with Symphony In Motion (Jeff Gregory) a pocket third.

Ubetterthink Think, a 6-year-old Bettor’s Delight miss trained by Mark Ford for owner Bob DiNozzi, retutrned $6.70 (second choice) for her third win in 13 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $27.80, with the triple returning $99.50.

Friday night’s final Matchmaker event found trainer Ford — who swept all three opening-round affairs — getting his second win of the second leg. Classy lass Shanghai Lil (Stephane Bouchard), last season’s Lady Maud victress with a two-hole trip, once again pounced from the pocket.

Sitting a two-hole from post No. 2, Shanghai Lil watched as even-money Call Me Yours (Bartlett) battled with Mach You And Me (Manzi). Meanwhile, Shanghai Lil was all dressed in her Easter best and waiting for some place to go.

“Go” she did, ducking inside and getting home by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.2, with Mach You And Me second and Quicksilvercandy A (Larry Stalbaum) third. Call Me Yours faded to seventh.

Shanghai Lil, a 4-year-old daughter of Jenna’s Beach Boy owned by All Star Racing, returned $4.80 (second choice) for her first win in a couple of ’10 tries. The exacta paid $16.40, with the triple returning $128.50.

Friday’s card also included the third (and final) preliminary round of the Petticoat Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-old fillies and mares.

The four, $12,500 divisions were won by:

• Docdor Libby, 4 (by Camluck); co-owners Santo Farina, Kevin Quinn, Frank Roberts/trainer Jake Hartline/driver Gregory; 1:55.4/$3.60;
• Fiesta Camcun, 4 (by Camotion); co-owners (trainer) Leonard LeBlanc and Donald Emond/driver Bartlett; 1:55.2/$3.80;
• Fox Valley Dazzle, 3 (by Richess Hanover); co-owners Hannah Miller and Tony Alagna/trainer Erv Miller/driver Manzi; 1:57.3/$3.40;
• I’m All Country, 4 (by Artiscape); co-owners (trainer) Dean Eckley and George Dremonas/driver Stratton; 1:56.1/$6.40.

Friday night’s usual $32,000 co-features — Open handicaps for trotters and distaff pacers — were won by Beach Nut Brand (Gregory, $9.90) in 1:57.1 and Monochromatic (Manzi, $9.10) in 1:53.4.