$381,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker won by a nose

Drama Act was the leading point-earner in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series preliminary rounds, and she backed that up by winning the $381,000 final on Monday night (April 25) at Yonkers Raceway in a close harness racing finish with Racine Bell. The time of the mile was 1:51.2.

Driver George Brennan fired Drama Act out from the pole position and led early, but Jason Bartlett wanted the front with favored Racine Bell, and he moved her from the pocket to the point prior to the 27.2 opening quarter. Racine Bell then backed down the half to just 56 seconds, with Easy To Please (Jordan Stratton) beginning a first-over move out of third past that marker. The tempo increased noticeably after Easy To Please tipped out, and while she was unable to get alongside Racine Bell, the three-quarters would go on the board in 1:23.4.

Racine Bell still had command around the last turn and into the lane after Easy To Please’s bid stalled out, but Bartlett had to keep working on his charge throughout that period, and then she drifted out in the stretch, allowing Drama Act to come through without ever having to leave the pylons. Racine Bell did dig in and looked like she might be able to hold on, but Drama Act surged in time and got up to defeat the pace-setter by a nose. Easy To Please was third, followed by Best Head West (Matt Kakaley) and Miss You N (Dexter Dunn).

DRAMA ACT REPLAY

“I figured Jason would want to cut it, which was fine. I just wanted to sit close. I saw Jason asking his mare in the last turn, and then she drifted out in the lane,” said Brennan. “Naturally, I’m looking to get out. I always want to go right if I can, but when she drifted out, there was plenty of room for me to get up inside. We took advantage of it.

“It was tight, but I thought I won. It was a great race.”

A 5-year-old daughter of Well Said, Drama Act is trained by Ron Burke for owner-breeder The OK Corral. This was her 26th victory from 46 career starts, and she has now earned $693,112. She was the 3-1 second choice and paid $8.10 to win. The exacta was worth $13.60 and the trifecta kicked back $38.20.

In a $75,000 consolation race, Gia’s Surreal (Bartlett) dug in gamely on the lead through the stretch and held on to tally in 1:53 flat. Lit De Rose (Pat Lachance) was parked out and first-over the whole way from post seven but turned in an excellent effort to finish second, and Man Dontforget Me (Dexter Dunn) was third from the pocket.

Ed Hart trains Gia’s Surreal, a 6-year-old mare by So Surreal, for owners James Graham, Edward Peron, and Lee Winters. She has put together a record of 28-14-12 from 88 lifetime appearances, and she boosted her bankroll to $578,125. Gia’s Surreal returned $4.10 to win as the favorite and keyed a $27.40 exacta and a $147.50 trifecta.

For full race results, click here.

From Yonkers Raceway Media