In theory, spring sprung Friday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the snowy opening round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker.
Three compact, $40,000 fields of the some of the best Free-For-All pacing mares went it at.
Friday’s first Matchmaker mélange went to a grinding Venus Delight (Jason Bartlett, $6.10), who picked off pacesetting (:27.4, :57.1, 1:25.2) Charisma Hanover (George Brennan) in 1:55.1. Sitting fourth early from post position No. 3, slight wagering choice “Venus” wore down the leader, winning by three-quarters of a length. Coffee Addict (Jordan Stratton) was a pocket third.
For season-debuting Venus Delight, a five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight owned by Bamond Racing and trained by Jeff Bamond Jr., it was her 18th win in 44 career starts. The exacta paid $28, with the triple returning $83.
The second Matchmaker event couldn’t have been much easier for pole-sitting, odds-on Carolsideal (Dan Dube, $2.90). She sauntered through the snow (:29.3, :59.1, 1:28, 1:55.4), whipping a pocketed Camille (Brennan) by a length and three-quarters, with Anndrovette (Tim Tetrick) a very good, two-move third in her first start of the season.
For Carolsideal, a six-year-old daughter of Western Ideal trained by Rene Allard for co-owners (himself as Allard Racing), Yves Sarazin and Kapildeo Singh, it was her sixth win in seven ’15 tries. The exacta paid $4.90, with the triple (three wagering favourites in order) returning $13.20.
The final division, pared down to a barber shop (beauty shop?) quartet after defending series champ Somwherovrarainbow came up ill, saw Krispy Apple (Tetrick, $5) pass the rest of the field -- all three of ‘em -- to win going away.
Backing away early from post No. 2, Krispy Apple saw 7-5 fave Medusa (Brennan) work around Monkey on My Wheel (Bartlett), then put up intervals of :28.2, :58 of 1:26.4. It was Krispy Apple making her move around a tiring Strings (Dube) and steadily advancing toward the lead. With “Monkey” wandering out of the pocket, Krispy Apple went inside, defeating Medusa by a couple of lengths in 1:55.2.
For second choice/season-debuting Krispy Apple, a seven-year-old millionaires daughter of Western Ideal trained by Bamond Jr. for co-owners Bamond Racing and Joe Davino, she’s now 28-for-93 lifetime.
The Raceway’s live season continues Saturday night (post time 7:10 p.m.), with the opening round of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series.
(Yonkers Raceway)