BY FRANK
DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Friday, April 10,
2015—Yonkers Raceway Friday night hosted the fourth round of the Blue Chip
Matchmaker of Open Pacing Mares. As was the case in the third leg, a pair of
small-but-select fields of five were bifurcated into $40,000 divisions.
Pole-sitting
favorite Venus Delight (Jason Bartlett, $4.80), finished what she started in
the first event, holding off a second-up Camille (George Brennan) in a
season’s-best 1:53.2. Monkey on My Wheel (Brian Sears) was third.
“Venus” seated all four of his
foes early, forcing Yagonnakissmeornot (Dan Dube) into a two-hole. After cheapy
opening intervals of :27.4 and :57.1, Monkey On My Wheel took out of third.
That one threw down the gauntlet in and out of a 1:25.3 three-quarters, while
“Yagonnakissme” was losing ground in behind.
Venue Delight maintained a short,
half-length advantage entering the lane, then whipped a charging Camille by
that same margin. Yagonnakissmeornot and a non-factor Coffee Addict (Matt
Kakaley) completed the order.
For Venus
Delight, a 5-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight owned by Bamond Racing and
trained by Jeffrey Bamond Jr., it was her second win in four seasonal starts
(2-for-3 in series). The exacta paid $22.20, with the triple not offered to the
abbreviated assemblage.
The second
Matchmaker event was more of the same for series leader, odds-on choice
Carolsideal (Dube, $2.80).
The only perfect participant made it four wins in series succession, defeating
Krispy Apple (Tim Tetrick) by a half-length in 1:53.2…same time as the opening
division.
Unhurried early
from post position No. 2, “Carol” watched both Charisma Hanover (Brennan) and
Fancy Desire (Kakaley) slug it out approaching a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.
Carolsideal then moved from third, securing the lead in Turn 2 and getting a
56-second intermission.
Fancy Desire
made her second move going toward the 1:24.4 three-quarters, with Krispy Apple
in behind. However, Carolsideal widened to 3½ lengths turning for home, holding
sway to keep the roll going. Strings (Eric Carlson) was a best-of-the-rest
third, with Fancy Desire and Charisma Hanover completing the order.
For Carolsideal
a 6-year-old daughter of Western Ideal trained by Rene Allard for co-owners
himself (as Allard Racing), Yves Sarazin and Kapildeo Singh, she’s now 9-for-10
this season. The exacta paid $8.20, with again
The Raceway’s live season continues
Saturday night (post time 7:10 PM), with the fourth round (three, $50,000
divisions) of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series. After that, it’s
Monday (7:10 PM), Tuesday (1 PM, second round of YR/SOA of NY Bonus Trotting
Series), then Thursday through Saturday (all at 7:10 PM). Note Sunday matinees
are done until November. Evening simulcasting accompanies all night programs,
with afternoon simulcasting available daily.
