If there were any questions about Aardie B Miki's talent following her dominant performances in the first two legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, they were answered in a major way on Friday night (April 11) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. The 5-year-old by Always B Miki offered a new wrinkle to her resume by racing on the front-end for the first time in North America and winning impressively in a 1:53 1/5 clocking with driver Jason Bartlett relaxed at the wire.
Four divisions of the Blue Chip Matchmaker were held, but Aardie Miki N, now a three-time winner in the series, clearly stamped herself as the one-to-beat, springing from the starting gate and rolling to the top over first round winner Walkin On Sunshine off the opening bend.
With a 27 3/5 quarter to settle the field, Bartlett had a very relaxed mare cut fractions of 56 4/5 and 1:25 2/5, with Uptown Hanover and Todd McCarthy offering a mild first-over response on the backstretch but never getting to the wheel of the heavy favorite. On the final turn Aardie B Miki N kicked in strongly, pacing home in 27 4/5 to better Walkin On Sunshine by three lengths. Uptown Hanover held on for the show spot.
Owned by M T Stables Ontario Inc., Aardie B Miki N is trained by Yonkers' leading conditioner Per Engblom. As the heavy favorite Aardie B Miki N paid $2.60 to win with the exacta worth $3.70 and triple $12.
Tarapasta and Matt Kakaley her first victory in the series in the opening Blue Chip Matchmaker division for trainer Travis Alexander in a 1:54 1/5 clocking. Facing just four rivals, Kakaley had Tarapasta, a 5-year-old mare by Downbytheseaside, energized from the outside, racing three-wide through the opening turn before securing control through a 27 1/5 opening quarter. Promiseland A and Jason Bartlett stretched out the 9-5 second choice while seating Intothemysticmoon on the first turn.
Kakaley would have company rather quickly as 3-5 favorite Millwood Bliss N and Dave Miller moved well before the quarter on a prolonged bid to secure control. Millwood Bliss N cleared the top off the second turn and reached the half in 56 3/5. Kakaley, sensing the leader was tiring, pulled Tarapasta from the pocket and went right by before three-quarters in 1:25 3/5. Challenged briefly on the final turn by Promiseland A, Tarpasta strode out to a 28 3/5 final quarter for an easy score. Promiseland A held second with Lydeo advancing for third.
Owned by Greg Luther Racing LLC., Tarapsta returned $5.90 to win and keyed a $22.60 exacta and $178.00 triple payout.
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Rocket Deo bounced back in a big way after failing in the second leg as the heavy favorite, as Bartlett guided the 4-year-old by Captaintreacherous from off-the-pace to victory in another $50,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker division.
The Brett Pelling-trained mare was held in reserve off the early pace as Coachellabound N and Brent Holland made a second move before the quarter after yielding to Talk Curdy To Me on the opening bend. Coachellabound N had control in a soft 28 3/5 opening fraction and was content to hit the half in 57 3/5 without dispute.
Bartlett put Rocket Deo on the move on the third turn, but she didn't gain much ground on the pace-setter as Holland and Coahcellabound N sprinted a third quarter in 27 2/5 and hit that marker in 1:25, with Talk Curdy To Me and McCarthy briefly coming out of the pocket and forcing Rocket Deo to race three-deep into the final bend. Coachellabound N briefly got some separation on the final turn, but Bartlett called on Rocket Deo, and the 4-5 favorite responded in kind to take control and stroll home to a 1:53 4/5 victory, her first of 2025.
Morrison Racing and John Fielding own Rocket Deo, who paid $3.80 to win and keyed a $15.80 exacta and $34.80 triple.
Silk Cloud A and driver Jordan Stratton were dominant in another Blue Chip Matchmaker division, securing control on the opening bend and going wire-to-wire in a 1:54 3/5 clocking. Silk Cloud A, owned by Eric Good and David Kryway, is a 7-year-old daughter of Shadow Play trained by Peter Tritton.
Stratton used the quick early burst of Silk Cloud A to clear the front into the opening bend and looped High Flyin' Filly (Yannick Gingras), forcing that one to take back. Silk Cloud A put Cheryls Shadow in the pocket and led that one through the opening-half, with fractions of 27 1/5 and 57 seconds.
Turn The Page N and driver Ron Cushing attempted an uncovered assault on the backstretch, but Stratton and Silk Cloud A were comfortably in control, hitting three-quarters in 1:25 2/5 and rolling home with a 29 1/5 final quarter. Cheryls Shadow followed the winner home in second with Turn The Page N third.
As the favorite Silk Cloud A returned $3.40 to win and keyed a $17 exacta and $43.40 triple payout. Now a two-time winner in the series, Silk Cloud A won for the 26th time in her career.
The preliminary rounds of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series will continue through Friday, April 25, with the leading point earners advancing to the final on Friday, May 9. A major change in 2025 revolves around the added money for the final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker, which gets a boost from $125,000 to $200,000, equaling the MGM Borgata Pacing Series total. With that increase the Blue Chip Matchmaker final will certainly offer the richest purse in recent history and far eclipse the $276,200 purse from 2024.
SERIES ACTION RETURNS ON MONDAY & WEDNESDAY: Monday's (April 14) third leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series has four $50,000 splits. Two-for-two For Once Inmy Life is taking the week off, but Mossdale Ben N will try and improve to three-for-three in the event in the final section (race eight).
The prelims of the John Brennan Trotting Series then conclude on Wednesday (April 16) with a trio of $30,000 splits of the third round. Named in honor of the longtime SOA of NY horsemen's representative who passed away from complications of COVID-19 in March 2020, the John Brennan Trotting Series will have a $100,000 guaranteed final and $50,000 guaranteed consolation on April 23.
PICK 5 POOL GETS A BOOST ON MONDAYS & FRIDAYS: Continuing for every Monday and Friday card during the legs of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, MGM Yonkers Raceway, in conjunction with the SOA of NY, will offer a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 5 pool in race five.
The guaranteed Pick 5 pool on Mondays is also a part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.
MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).
--press release (Yonkers)--