Standardbred Owners Association of New York

733 Yonkers Ave., Suite 102, Yonkers NY, 10704 Phone: 914-968-3599 Fax: 914-968-3943

Latest News: Standardbred Owners Association of New York

YONKERS CONCLUDES PRELIMINARIES OF MATCHMAKER

Three, $40,000 events again brought together many of the best pacing mares in the last chance to impress the electorate.

First Division:A first up toughie, but Dude'salady (Tim Tetrick, $27.80) prevailed in a blanket finish.

Early leader Lakeisha Hall (George Brennan) gave it up to Lady Shadow (Jason Bartlett), with the latter setting early intervals of 27.3 and 56.4. From post position No. 2, Dude'salady took out of fourth, with 11-10 favorite Mackenzie A (Jordan Stratton) towed from second-over.

Dude's lady found her best stride after a 1:24 three-quarters, though Lady Shadow owned a length-and-a-quarter lead in the lane. The pursuer surged late, whipping the pace-setter by a neck in a life-best 1:52.4. Lakeisha Hall found inside room but was photoed for second.

Call Me Queen Be closed well for fourth, while Mackenzie A wound up a flat fifth, the quintet of payees separated by just a half-length.

"I thought she was good last week, so I wasn't surprised she dug in," Tetrick said.

For fifth choice Dude'salady, a 4-year-old daughter of Shadow Play co-owned by First Staters M&L of Delaware & Victoria Dickinson and trained by Bruce Saunders, it was her fifth win in a dozen seasonal starts (1-for-5 in series). The exacta paid $131.50, with the triple returning $629.

Second Division-Pole-sitting Sell a Bit N (Stratton, $8.50) went the distance (27.1, 56.3, 1:25.1, season's-best 1:53.1). She stuffed Medusa 19-10 fave (Yannick Gingras) in behind, then dealt with a first-up Twinkle (Eric Goodell).

The latter could have been a tad better "front ma'am" for Newborn Sassy, who herself was gapping a bit.

Newborn Sassy rallied wide and did get into second. Sell a Bit N owned a three quarter length lead in and out of the final turn, maintaining that margin to the wire. Medusa was third, with Twinkle fourth.

For third choice Sell a Bit N, an 8-year-old Down Under daughter of Julius Caesar owned by Von Knoblauch Stables and trained by Peter Tritton, it was her fifth win in 10 '18 tries (2-for-4 in series). The exacta paid $42.40, with the triple returning $155.50.

Third Division-Well, this was a surprise. Series domimnatrix Shartin N (Tetrick), who had won all three of her Matchmaker starts before getting a week off, couldn't get out of her own way.

The 3-10 choice broke right at the start, caught the field, then jumped it off again at the half.
While this hard-to-believe was happening,pole-sitting L A Delight (Gingras) retook from Clear Idea (Mark MacDonald), then held the other three in-range lasses at bay (28.2, 57.4, 1:25.1, season's best-matching 1:53.2).

Clear Idea was second, beaten a length-and-a-half, with Shesjustadelight N (Ron Cushing) third.
Shartin N wound up last among the octet.

"Just wasn't her night," Tetrick said. "There have been times when she's been fussy with her mouth, and I don't know if that's what happened. She jogged back to the paddock and seemed sound, so we have to see.

For second choice L A Delight, a 5-year-old daughter of Bettor's Delight owned by Diamond Creek Racing and trained by Nancy Johansson, she's now 2-for-4 this season. The exacta paid $59.50, with triple returning $298.

News Archives