Weekend Harness Stakes at Yonkers: Levy and Matchmaker Series Begin
Bluechip Matchmaker
The Bluechip Matchmaker preliminaries start at Yonkers Raceway on Friday, March 22nd.This is the first of five legs and will provide plenty of racing action. Third time entrant Androvette's connections are probably hoping that the 3rd time is the charm for the Pacing Mare of the Year. Her competition includes some of the best mares from East Coast tracks including Rocklamation, who won her first race back this year and is a leading money earner for the Ron Burke stable. Burke has 8 other entries in the Matchmaker.
Another probable favorite is Hot List in the 4th race, coupled with Bettor Be Lucky, a formidable duo.
In the 6th, Ginger and Fred in the 2 post looks hard to beat and is at 4/5 in the morning line.
Also in the high win bias inside post is Feeling You, in the 7th, while Rock N Soul, #1, gets the 3 post and coupled entry Darena Hanover gets post 6, not a good spot.
In the 9th, Foxy Lady is at 8-5 and in the 3 post, but I like Rocklamation, her coupled entry mate, who will start from the 5 post as the 1A.
In the 10th, my pick is Ramalama with Yannick Gingras, although the morning line favorite, Ramona Disomma, is dangerous, judging by her last win from the 9 post at the Big M. Friday's Matchmaker series takes place in the 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th races. Read your program carefully, because program numbers and post position numbers are different for many of the entries. When the 1 post has a huge bias, as it does at Yonkers, post position matters.
Foiled Again To Start in Morton Levy at Yonkers on Saturday Night
He'll be making his first start of the season when Yannick Gingras drives him behind the gate this Saturday in race 10. The 9 year old superstar hasn't taken this series for 3 years, but has come close and will probably be the big favorite in this race. With the rail post and big speed numbers in his past races, it's pretty hard not to like him.In the earlier races, Versado looks like the chalk in race 5, in spite of his outside post in the 7 hole, which is where he was when he won his last race with ease.
In race 6, Annies Western Card looks like the horse to beat, and I'm wondering if In Commando in the 1 post with George Brennan, can do that. Or at least get into the exotics.
In the 7th, I'd like to see Forever Just hit the wire ahead of Clear Vision, but I'll back up my exacta just in case it turns out to be the other way.
In the 8th, I'll be betting that Bet On The Law can move up with Brian Sears driving and grab the win from probable favorite, Something For Doc. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sapphire City in the mix at the wire either.
If Atochia is back in form off those qualifiers, he should be able to overcome his post position and get to the lead, but I hate betting horses off layoffs, so I'm going to go with George Brennan and Sea Venture in this one.
The $1.75 million dollar series wraps up on April 27th and promises to provide plenty of racing excitement and probably some suprises for the smart handicapper.