It was the end of line for prelims Friday night, with Yonkers Raceway's Blue Chip Matchmaker for Open pacing mares offering round five. Four $40,000 divisions went to post, with the Reader's Digest version as such...
Tim Tetrick committed thievery in front of any number of witnesses, waltzing--with Krispy Apple ($4.80)---through 1968-ish early fractions of :30.3 and 1:00.2. Western Silk (birthday boy George Brennan), as the 1-2 choice, then bull-rushed out of fourth, taking over in a :26.3 third quarter (1:27). Western Silk owned a length and a half lead entering the lane, but Krispy Apple had way too much in reserve. She ducked inside, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.4 (:53.2 back half). It was not quite five lengths back to Breakheart Pass (Jason Bartlett) in third.
For Krispy Apple, a four-year-old daughter of Western Ideal co-owned by Bamond Racing and Joseph Davino and trained by PJ Fraley, it was her second consecutive series wins and second in five seasonal starts. The exacta paid $7.60, with the triple returning $36.
Billmar Scooter (Eric Goodell, $10.20) sat pocketed to Mystical Diva (Brian Sears), then whipped that one by a long nose in a season's-best 1:52.2. Chancey Lady (Tetrick), done few favours by a longshot leaving inside of her, was a first-up third as the 3-5 choice.
For Billmar Scooter, a seven-year-old daughter of Keystone Raider co-owned by Oldford Farms, Allen Sisco Stable and Tyler Buter and trained by Amber Buter, it was her third win (as this race's third choice) in 11 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $33.20, with the triple returning $61.
See You At Peelers (Sears, $2.10), given last week off for exceedingly good behaviour throughout this series, methodically took care of business in the next division. Starting outside her six rivals, she worked around Ginger And Fred (Bartlett) after a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. She then rated a :56.4 intermission before 30-1 shot Keepers Destiny (Goodell) tried her luck first-up. A 1:25.3 three-quarters gave the fave a length and a half lead into the lane. Her final margin was a length and three-quarters in 1:53.3. Second went to a game Keepers Destiny, with Ginger And Fred third.
For 'Peelers,' a statebred four-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight trained by Jimmy Takter for his wife, (breeder) Christina, Jim and John Fielding, it was her fourth this series/season in as many starts. The exacta paid $14.60, with the triple returning $56.
"She's been getting better as the series has gone on, and that's what I wanted to see from her," Jimmy Takter said, "She loves this track [now nine-for-nine here), but [the Matchmaker] is a tough place to come back from a layoff.
"She'd raced six weeks in a row [three qualifiers and three starts], so I felt last week was a good time to skip a start," Takter said. "I like the way she's coming into the [Apr. 28 $297,000] final."
Rocklamation (Sears, $5.80), as the second choice, went the distance, whipping Hulas Z Tam (Pat Lachance) by two and a half lengths in 1:52.3. P Note Blue Chip (Brennan) was a pocket third. Anndrovette (Tetrick), the 9-10 choice from the outside in a seven-horse field, didn't leave and was a no-chance fourth.
For Rocklamation, a four-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover trained by Ron Burke for co-owners Our Horse Cents Stable, Stable 45 and Jerry Silva, it was her fourth win in eight seasonal starts. The exacta paid $26.60, with the triple returning $100.50.
After all the dust particles had settled, tally meister Bob (Abacus) Miecuna offered these final prelim standings:
1. Rocklamation (325)
2. Anndrovette (295)
3. See You at Peelers (279.5)
4. Chancey Lady (274.5)
5. Western Silk (250)
6. Krispy Apple (247)
7. Billmar Scooter & Fox Valley Sage (237 each).
*Note that these are points only, and do not necessarily represent those mares who have qualified for the final. That determination will be made by the race office in conjunction with the rules of the series.
Friday night's $33,000 Open Handicap Trot was won by 13-10 favourite Farifant (Brennan, $4.70) in 1:56.1.
(Yonkers Raceway)