Unbeaten Maestro Blue Chip goes for ninth straight

YONKERS, NY, Sunday, April 24, 2016–They haven't beaten him all season, and they're probably gonna have to go some to do it with the money on the table.

Maestro Blue Chip, he of the 8-for-8 seasonal resume, looms a short-priced proposition Tuesday afternoon in the $73,500 final of Yonkers Raceway/Standardbred Owners Association of New York Bonus Trotting Series.

Post time for the dozen-race card is 1 PM, with the series finale going as the fifth race.

The series was open to 3-year-olds and their elders who were non-winners of six parimutuel races and/or $100,000 through this past Feb. 1 (winners over $150,000 through that date ineligible).

"Maestro" wears head No. 6 after drawing post position No. 5 in the finale of the four-week event, which has seen him win his three series legs by nearly 15 combined lengths…all as the odds-on choice. The 4-year-old son of Credit Winner is again driven by Tim Tetrick for owner Richard Poillucci and trainer JoAnn Looney-King.

Maestro Blue Chip enters with seasonal earnings of $68,250 and his 1:55.3 effort a week ago was the fastest mile of this series.

A List Lindy (Matt Kakaley, HN 1A, post 2), Tuscanellie (Dan Dube, HN 2, post 3) and Newcastle (Brett Miller, HN 6, post 7) each won twice in their series tries.

Lakota (George Brennan, HN 1, post 1), Jackie Goldstein (Vinny Ginsburg, HN 3, post 4), Summers Windsong (Jason Bartlett, HN 4, post 5) and Stormont Park (Jordan Stratton, HN 7, post 8) complete the field.

A $30,000 series consolation goes as the fourth race.

Frank Drucker, for Yonkers Raceway