Ex-Kiwi mare wins $50,000 Matchmaker division

Aardie B Miki N (Always B Miki) made a successful North American harness racing debut for trainer Per Engblom and driver Jason Bartlett, capturing the first of four $50,000 divisions in the opening round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night (March 28). A 5-year-old by Always B Miki, Aardie B Miki N vaulted off a live cover tow on the final turn and responded with a snappy final quarter, wearing town pace-setter Talk Curdy To Me. Sent off as the 3-5 choice, Aardie B Miki scored in 1:53.4.

Talk Curdy To Me made two moves to gain control of the race by the 27.1 opening quarter and settled the pace nicely for driver Todd McCarthy, hitting the half in 57.4. Bartlett had moved Aardie B Miki N behind the live cover of Coachellabound N and stayed on that cover through three-quarters in 1:26.1. On the final turn Bartlett roared three-deep, and Aardie B Miki N was too strong for the leader, powering to victory. Talk Curdy To Me held second with Factor Girl third.

AARDIE B MIKI N REPLAY

Owned by M T Stables, Aardie B Miki N returned $3.20 as the favorite, heading a $6.90 exacta and a $16.60 triple ticket.

The rain had no impact on Walkin On Sunshine, as the 5-year-old daughter of Always A Virgin remained perfect on the season, breezing to her fourth consecutive win in a dominating performance in the second $50,000 division.

Bartlett guided the Brett Pelling-trained mare to the front and never looked back, setting fractions of 28, 57.4 and 1:25.1 before she sprinted a final quarter in 27 seconds flat to complete the mile in 1:52.1. Walkin On Sunshine took control from runner-up Turn The Page N off the first turn and was in control from there. Ron Cushing and Turn The Page N fought hard and out-dueled Millwood Bliss N for the second spot.

Owned by Maynard Miller, Daniel Lehman and Michael Yoder, Walkin On Sunshine won for the 19th time in her career and paid $2.50 to win, topping a $6.90 exacta and a $15 triple.

WALKIN ON SUNSHINE REPLAY

Silk Cloud A and driver Jordan Stratton blasted out of the gate and then were strong at the wire, posting a mild upset in the third $50,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker division. The Peter Tritton-trained daughter of Shadow Play rolled past 3-5 favorite Rocket Deo nearing the wire to post her first victory in five starts this year.

Silk Cloud A out-sprinted Lloyd’s Loves to the lead into the first turn, with Bartlett putting the favored Rocket Deo in the three-hole. Brent Holland and Lloyd’s Loves regained control off the opening bend and were able to set down soft fractions of 28 seconds and 58 seconds for the opening-half.

Bartlett got Rocket Deo on the move late on the third turn to engage the pace-setter and was on even terms at three-quarters in 1:25.3. Through the final turn Stratton edged out behind Rocket Deo and was ready to pounce when that one took control in the early stretch. Silk Cloud A sprinted by to a 1:53 victory, with Rocket Deo second and Lloyd’s Loves third.

SILK CLOUD REPLAY

Owned by Eric Good and David Kryway, Silk Cloud A returned $13.80 to win and keyed a $31.80 exacta and $71 triple ticket.

The fourth and final $50,000 division of the Blue Chip Matchmaker saw Beautiful Seaside and Tim Tetrick roll off second- over cover and storm to victory over the first-up Uptown Hanover, with 1-2 favorite Grace Hill getting up for third on the wire after having difficulty finding room in the stretch. Beautiful Seaside, a 5-year-old by Downbytheseaside, is trained by Scott Di Domenico.

BEAUTIFUL SEASIDE REPLAY

Seaside Diva and Grace Hill exchanged the lead off the opening bend, with Yannick Gingras and Seaside Diva at the quarter in 27.3. Seaside Diva kept a lively clip, hitting the half in 56.3 before Uptown Hanover and Todd McCarthy moved without cover. Tetrick put Beautiful Seaside on her back, and the pair rushed up in the third quarter, with Seaside Diva still in control through a 1:24.3 three-quarters.

Uptown Hanover was at the throat of the leader, and that kept Grace Hill in the pocket without room at the top of the stretch. Tetrick wasn’t looking inside, as he put Beautiful Seaside in three-wide position off the final turn, and the mare responded to win confidently. Uptown Hanover was clear for second, with Grace Hill and Bartlett only finding room in the late stages and barely getting up for the third spot.

Owned by Mike Rowe, Beautiful Seaside returned $17 to win and led a $156 exacta and $615 triple payoff.

The preliminary rounds of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series will continue through Friday, April 25, with the leading point earners advancing to the final on Friday, May 9. A major change in 2025 revolves around the added money for the final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker, which gets a boost from $125,000 to $200,000, equaling the MGM Borgata Pacing Series total. With that increase the Blue Chip Matchmaker final will certainly offer the richest purse in recent history and far eclipse the $276,200 purse from 2024.

Stakes action continues on Monday (March 31) at Yonkers with five $50,000 splits of first round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series for older males. Hellabalou begins his journey for three straight Borgata titles from post seven in the first flight (race five).

MGM Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday through Friday live schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. (EDT).

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

From Yonkers Raceway