Mikala snags another leg of Matchmaker Series

Mikala (Always B Miki), driven by George Brennan, marched to the front past the quarter and never looked back on the way to her second harness racing victory in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, scoring as the favorite in the first of two $40,000 divisions of the fourth leg on Friday (April 5) night at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Coachellabound N and Yannick Gingras sprinted from the gate to take control over True Blue Hanover on the first turn and had command until Brennan unleashed Mikala, a daughter of Always B Miki, before the quarter pole with a burst of speed to clear the front past the snappy :27.3 opening fraction.

Mikala looked relaxed but was pacing strongly through the half in :56.3 and continued to speed down the pike. A :27.4 third quarter would bring her to three-quarters in 1:24 2/5 and left second choice Dougs Babe A, who was first-over with Dexter Dunn, at a disadvantage heading into the final turn.

Gingras pulled with Coachellabound N on the final turn and appeared ready to threaten the favorite, but Brennan called on Mikala through the stretch and the mare hung on gamely to score by a neck in 1:53. Coachellabound N settled for second, with Dougs Babe A closing the margin through the stretch but finishing third. Incaseyoudidntknow rallied for fourth.

MIKALA REPLAY

Trained by Nik Drennan, Mikala is owned by Joseph Davino, Brad Shackman, Anthony Perretti Farms and Drennan Stable LLC. As the favorite she returned $4.20 to win, keying a $16 exacta, a $37.60 triple and a $3.65 superfecta for a 10-cent ticket.

In the second Blue Chip Matchmaker section, Jason Bartlett and Racine Bell (So Surreal) pulled a mild upset, winning for the first time in 2024 while gamely holding odds-on favorite Lit De Rose at bay after a thrilling stretch drive.

Bartlett left with intent from post four and seated Man Dontforget Me late on the opening turn. Delitfulcatherin N and Jordan Stratton also tried to leave but were forced to wedge into a four-hole off the first turn and wait to move again later. Bartlett had Racine Bell on the front in a 27.3 opening quarter, but he applied the brakes in the second quarter and that got some of the back a bit antsy. Prior to the 57.1 half-mile fraction Stratton had pulled Delitfulcatherin N to the outside as a cue to Lit De Rose and Patrick Lachance, though Lachance didn’t appear keen on moving too early.

Past the half Racine Bell picked up the pace, and Lit De Rose went on with a solid challenge, moving towards the leader. Delitfulcatherin N didn’t have the sprinting power to keep with her cover on the backstretch, and that allowed Easy To Please, with Yannick Gingras, to gain second-over cover right before the 1:25 2/5 three-quarters was passed first by Racine Bell.

In the stretch it was a two-mare contest as Racine Bell fought on the inside and Lit De Rose challenged to her flank but was unable to pass, losing in a tight photo in a mile timed in 1:54 3/5. Easy To Please gained slowly in the stretch to secure the third spot, with Man Dontforget Me along the inside in fourth.

RACINE BELL REPLAY

Owned by Chris and Dale Lawton and trained by David Dewhurst, Racine Bell was a winner for the 38th time in her storied career while getting off the schneid in 2024 with her first win in six attempts. As the second choice Racine Bell returned $9.70 to win, leading a $30.40 exacta with the favorite. The triple paid $112 and the 10-cent superfecta was worth $20.40.

A 7-year-old New York-sired mare, Racine Bell increased her career bankroll to $1,195,499 with the victory.

The fifth and final preliminary leg for the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series is slated for Friday, April 12, with the $125,000-added final going on Monday, April 22.

Stakes action continues at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Monday night with the fourth leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series offering three $50,000 divisions on the 12-race program. After a delay due to the cancelation on Wednesday (April 3), the John Brennan Trotting Series also begins next week with five $25,000 splits of the opening round on Wednesday night’s (April 10) card.

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday-Friday live schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From Yonkers Raceway