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Saturday, April 20, 2013

YR - MATCHMAKER PRELIMS CLOSE UP SHOP


BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

 YONKERS, NY, Friday, April 19, 2013--Yonkers Raceway Friday night played host to the fifth and final round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker. A trio of $40,000 divisions for pacing mares went at it, with the certified summaries as such...

First division--Ramalama (Yannick Gingras, $5.80), part of a three-headed Ron Burke-trainer entry, prevailed from the pocket. After pole-sitting Warrawee Koine (Jason Bartlett) seated everyone (:28.1, :56.4), Ramalama played along from post position No. 2.  Eightunrdolarbill (Brian Sears) pulled from third, going nowhere toward the 1:25 three-quarters.

That compromised a second-up Ginger and Fred (Matt Kakaley), who went wide to nowhere. Meanwhile.4-5 choice Anndrovette (Tim Tetrick), who floated into an early five-hole, was minding her business while improving her position. Warrawee Koine owned a two-length lead into the lane, with Ramalama--who tired badly on the lead a week ago--edging out and gaining. She whipped a pylon-skimming Anndrovette by a head in 1:53.1. Warrawee Koine faded to third. 

Ramalama, a 4-year-old daughter of Bettor's Delight co-owned (as Burke Racing) by her trainer, Weaver Bruscemi and Our Horse Cents  Stable, it was her second win (entry was second choice) in six seasonal starts (2-for-5 in series). The exacta paid $10.40, with the triple returning $26.40. 

Second division--The lasses left in post order (:28.2, :56.3, 1:25), which played to the advantage of Handsoffmycookie (Tetrick). "Cookie" had only token, first-up pressure from longshot Western Silk (catch-driver Bartlett), but 8-5 Feeling You (Tyler Buter) was waiting her turn in behind.

Feeling You ($5.50) first went in, then out, going by Handsoffmycookie and winning by a half-length in 1:52.3. Handsoffmycookie held second over Krispy Apple (Kakaley), with that one making a break nearing the wire. Krsipy Apple crossed the line third, but was set down to fourth after being lapped on to Rocklamation (Gingras).

Second choice Feeling You, a 6-year-old daughter of Cambest trained by Amber Buter for co-owners Buter the driver, Stephen Oldford and Oldford Farms, has five win in eight seasonal starts (3-for-5 in series).The exacta paid $16.60, with the triple returning $37.80.

Third division--Darena Hanover (Gingras) and Keeper's Destiny (Sears) played leapfrog on the lead during a :27.3 opening quarter-mile "Darena," part of the 9-10 favored entry, found a 57-second intermission before the fresh Lasix of Ramona Disomma (Dan Dube), from post No. 5, took out of fifth.

That one cut into the margin of the leader through the 1:25.1 three-quarters, then kept on keepin' on. She won by a length-and-quarter in 1:53.3. Second went to Keeeper's Destiny. with Darena Hanover tiring to third.  

Third choice Ramona Disomma ($6.90), a homebred 8-year-old daughter of Pacific Fella owned by Anatolia Racing Stable and trained by Rene Allard, is now 4-for-9 this season (2-for-4 in series). The exacta paid $27.40, with the triple returning $48.80.

The leading eight Matchmaker point-earners were Anndrovette (325), Feeling You (308), Camille (275), Rocklamation (274), Krispy Apple (270), Ramalama (255), Ginger and Fred (232) and Bettor B Lucky (220). The "second eight" include Warrawee Koine (212½ ), Eightunrdolarbill (205), Ramona Disomma (200), Royal Cee Cee N (199½), Rock N Soul (167), Handsoffmycookie (163), Full Picture (162) and Doc's Hope (152).

Please note that these are not necessarily the entrants for the Apr. 27 final ($285,000) and consolation ($75,000), until determined by the race office. 

Friday night's $38,500 Open Handicap Trot was won by eight-hole assignee Imperial Count (Buter, $7.70) in 1:56.

Saturday's card features the fifth (final) round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series, going as four, $50,000 divisions.

The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule continues, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.