Incaseyoudidntknow, McCarthy looking for another strong Matchmaker

Andy McCarthy enjoyed success with Incaseyoudidntknow (Always B Miki) in last year’s Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for older female pacers at MGM Yonkers Raceway and the tandem began this harness racing season’s event on the right foot with a win in the opening round a week ago.

Incaseyoudidntknow and McCarthy have teamed up for six starts in the series dating back to last year and posted two wins, a second, and two thirds. Their only time outside the top three came in the 2023 final when they started from post seven and finished sixth.

Last week, Incaseyoudidntknow won the third of three Matchmaker divisions by a nose over Intothemysticmoon in 1:53.3. Her time was the second fastest of the three splits, sandwiched between Lit De Rose’s 1:53.2 nose triumph over Delitfulcatherin N and Tony’s Mom’s 1:53.4 one-length victory over Treacherous Penny.

“She was really good,” McCarthy said about Incaseyoudidntknow, a 6-year-old daughter of Always B Miki-In Deep Thought owned by Maryland’s James Magno and Joseph Fonte. “I think she’s a really good mare for that series. It looks like the mile she put in (last week) was as good as any of them. She definitely fits.”

Incaseyoudidntknow won 14 of 38 races last year and earned $264,608 while racing primarily at Yonkers, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Bally’s Dover, and Harrington Raceway. For her career, she has 31 victories in 83 starts and $519,569 in purses.

On Friday, Incaseyoudidntknow will compete in the first of three $40,000 second-round Matchmaker divisions. She will leave from post one in a field of six and is the 2-1 morning-line favorite. She faced three of her Friday rivals — Intothemysticmoon, Coachellabound N, and Avf Claire — in last week’s opener. The remaining two mares, Treacherous Penny and Karma Seelster, were second and third, respectively, behind Tony’s Mom last week.

“It looks like a pretty good spot this week,” McCarthy said. “She seems to like Yonkers. She is one of those mares that doesn’t mind being on the outside, which is usually tough on a half-mile track. She does have a bit of gate speed if I can tell her to get out of there, but she doesn’t mind first-over. I think her versatility is what makes her good for that series and that track.”

Incaseyoudidntknow, who is stabled with New York-based trainer Cory Stratton for the Matchmaker and with Delaware’s Les Givens for her other Mid-Atlantic engagements, had been driven by McCarthy only twice in her previous 26 races prior to last week.

“It will probably take me a start or two just to get in tune with her again,” McCarthy said. “She is kind of a lazy mare, so it’s pretty much all timing with her. She will go forward, it’s just a matter of getting her to do it when you want her to do it. Hopefully, we can continue to get along together.”

The Blue Chip Matchmaker features five preliminary rounds where horses receive 50 points for winning, 25 for second, 12 for third, eight for fourth, and five for fifth. In addition, all starters in each round receive 25 points. The top-eight horses at the completion of the prelims are eligible for the $125,000-added final on April 22.

“It’s a long series,” McCarthy said. “If you can do well enough where you don’t have to go every week, it probably makes a big difference by the time the final comes around.”

Dougs Babe A, who finished third behind Incaseyoudidntknow and Intothemysticmoon last week, is the 8-5 favorite in Friday’s second division, with Dexter Dunn in the sulky for trainer Nifty Norman. Lit De Rose, trained and driven by Pat Lachance, is the 6-5 favorite in the third group.

Racing begins at 7 p.m. (EDT) at Yonkers. For free programs, visit the Standardbred Owners Association of New York website.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA