BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Friday, April 14,
2017—Yonkers Raceway’s Blue Chip Matchmaker offered up Round 5 Friday night
(April 14h), with a pair of $40,000 divisions.
The opening
event saw 2-5 fave Bedroomconfessions (Scott Zeron) get looped leaving, then
walk home. That scenario was good news for a second-up Mach it a Par (Jason
Bartlett, $7.80), who was carried into the race and into the winner’s circle.
After Diva’s
Image (Joe Bongiorno) made the first lead, Bedroomconfessions took over before
a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. It was a 57-second intermission before Hidden
Land (Tim Tetrick) took out of third. That one disposed of a weak-kneed leader
passing a 1:25.4 three-quarters, with Mach it a Par—from post position No.
5—right behind.
Hidden Land
owned a length lead into the land, but the pursuer blew right by. Mach it a Par
widened to win by 2½ lengths in 1:53.2.
Diva’s Image
was third after yet another unlucky trip, with Al Raza N (Matt Kakaley) and
Sell a Bit N (Jordan Stratton) rounding out the payees. Bedroomconfessions,
back after taking last week off, finished last among the half-dozen, beaten
more than a dozen lengths.
For second
choice Mach it a Par, a 7-year-old daughter of Mach Three trained by Richard
Banca for co-owners D’Elegance Stable IX, Carmen Iannacone, T L P &
Gandolfo Stables, it was her third win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta
paid $27.60, with the triple returning $88.50.
Friday’s
second Matchmaker soiree had Krispy Apple (Tetrick) tire badly on the lead for
the second consecutive start (:28.1, :56.3, 1:24.2), but not before carrying
pole-sitting, 17-10 favorite Regil Elektra (Bartlett, $5.50) into the lane, and
into a photographer meet-and-greet.
Regil Elektra
whipped a solid, first-over Lispatty (Brian Sears) by a head in 1:53.1, with
Shesjustadelight N (Ron Cushing) third, a cone-skimming Medusda (Kakaley)
fourth (first four finishers separated by a neck) and Krispy Apple fading to
fifth.
Mackenzie A
(Stratton) was in the back, threw in steps and never factored.
For Regil
Elektra, a 7-year-old Mach Three ma’am owned by Fred Monteleone Stable and
trained by Keith Armer, it was her fifth win in nine ’17 tries. The exacta paid
$23.80, with the triple returning $90.50.
The final
preliminary standings, courtesy of Bob (OUTP) Miecuna, accompany this release.
Note that these do not necessarily represent those horses eligible for the next
Saturday’s (Apr. 22nd) final and consolation. Those determinations
shall be made by the race office, with the draw set for Monday afternoon (Apr.
17th).
The purse for
the final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker has been calculated at $310,600 (sum of
added money, nominating and starting fees), pending conformation by those who
keep track of such things.
Round 5 of
the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series goes Saturday night (Apr. 15th),
with three, $50,000 divisions.
