Yagonnakissmeornot takes $309,800 Matchmaker

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride…until this time around. Yagonnakissmeornot (Dan Dube, $8.30), second-best in this race a season ago, rolled from off the pace Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $309,800 final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker for harness racing pacing mares.

Unhurried early from post position No. 4, "Yagonnakissme" watched Krispy Apple (Jason Bartlett) was launched from behind the eight-ball. She was met by Sell a Bit N (Jordan Stratton), with the latter-as the slight 5-2 favorite-retaking before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.

Sell a Bit N continued to lead at :55.3 half as Lady Shadow (Corey Callahan) took out of third. That one moved toward the leader while Yagonnakissmeornot had some ground to make up from second-over to play catch-up.

A :27.4 third quarter (1:23.2) did enough to make leader and challenger a bit susceptible, though Sell a Bit N had a length-and-a-half in and out of the final turn. As that was happening, Yagonnakissmeot was getting the memo and roaring through the lane.

She picked off the pace-setter, whipping Sell a Bit N by a pair of going-away lengths in a life-best 1:51.4. Sell a Bit N held second, with a third-over Al Raza N (Dave Miller) third. Regil Elektra (Tim Tetrick) and last season's winner, Venus Delight (Yannick Gingras) settled for the remainder, with Krispy Apple, Lady Shadow and Mach it a Par brought up the rear.

For Yagonakissmeornot, a third choice 7-year-old daughter of The Panderosa co-owned (as Allard Racing) by (trainer) Rene Allard. Yves Sarazin and Kapildeo Singh, it was her fourth win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $27.80, with the triple returning $143.

"I thought about leaving the gate, but when I saw the outside horse (Krispy Apple) leave hard, I decided against it," Dube said. "She's just a tough mare."

Dube also won this race in 2011 with Tomorrowpan.

"She's a favorite around the barn, goes about her work and stays at it," Allard said.

A $75,000 series consolation was won by Carolsideal (Dube, $4) in 1:52.1 as a stablemate to the series winner.

Frank Drucker