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YAGONNAKISSMEORNOT WINS $309K FINAL OF BLUE CHIP MATCHMAKER

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, April 23, 2016-Always a bridesmaid, never a bride...until this time around.

Yagonnakissmeornot (Dan Dube, $8.30), second-best in this race a season ago, rolled from off the pace Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $309,800 final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker for pacing mares.

Unhurried early from post position No. 4, "Yagonnakissme" watched Krispy Apple (Jason Bartlett) was launched from behind the eight-ball. She was met by Sell a Bit N (Jordan Stratton), with the latter-as the slight 5-2 favorite-retaking before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.

Sell a Bit N continued to lead at :55.3 half as Lady Shadow (Corey Callahan) took out of third. That one moved toward the leader while Yagonnakissmeornot had some ground to make up from second-over to play catch-up.

A :27.4 third quarter (1:23.2) did enough to make leader and challenger a bit susceptible, though Sell a Bit N had a length-and-a-half in and out of the final turn. As that was happening, Yagonnakissmeot was getting the memo and roaring through the lane.

She picked off the pace-setter, whipping Sell a Bit N by a pair of going-away lengths in a life-best 1:51.4. Sell a Bit N held second, with a third-over Al Raza N (Dave Miller) third. Regil Elektra (Tim Tetrick) and last season’s winner, Venus Delight (Yannick Gingras) settled for the remainder, with Krispy Apple, Lady Shadow and Mach it a Par brought up the rear.

For Yagonakissmeornot, a third choice 7-year-old daughter of The Panderosa co-owned (as Allard Racing) by (trainer) Rene Allard. Yves Sarazin and Kapildeo Singh, it was her fourth win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $27.80, with the triple returning $143.




"I thought about leaving the gate, but when I saw the outside horse (Krispy Apple) leave hard, I decided against it," Dube said. "She's just a tough mare."

Dube also won this race in 2011 with Tomorrowpan.

"She's a favorite around the barn, goes about her work and stays at it," Allard said.

A $75,000 series consolation was won by Carolsideal (Dube, $4) in 1:52.1 as a stablemate to the series winner.

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