Post positions have been drawn for Yonkers Raceway's pair of Saturday night stakes finals, the $495,000 George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series and $301,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker - the two richest North American harness races of the season to date
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Post time for the 12-race card is 7:10 p.m., with the (ladies first) Matchmaker going as the sixth race (approximate post 8:45 p.m.) and the Levy going as the ninth race (approximate post 9:45 p.m.). Yannick Gingras finds himself sitting being both early favourites.
"I'm very happy with both draws," Gingras said as the double-millionaire Foiled Again goes after a third consecutive title in this series while Ginger And Fred looks for a second Matchmaker crown in succession.
"Foiled Again is just a great horse,” added Gingras. “It's like the harder you race him, the more he enjoys it. Obviously, he was very sharp (4-for-4) in his preliminary races, but I always had something left at the end of the mile. There's a lot of talent in the field--certainly more than I remember seeing in this series--and my biggest concern is making sure he gets a clean shot to race. It doesn't have to be on the lead, and there's enough speed inside of me, but I wouldn't trade places with anyone else in there."
As for the millionairess Ginger and Fred, "I didn't know much about her before this series," Gingras said. "I had raced against her, but driving her, I've learned she's versatile. She has enough speed to take advantage of the draw, but she showed me something coming a big back half first-up last week (to Chancey Lady).”
Note that a $100,000 consolation for the Levy (eighth race) and $75,000 consolation for the Matchmaker (fifth race) are also included of the program.
$495,000 George Morton Levy Memorial Pace
PP
1. This Is Wyatt
2. Southern Allie
3. Blatantly Good
4. Gallant Yankee
5. Real Nice
6. Foiled Again
7. Foreign Officer
8. Giddy Up Lucky
$301,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker
PP
1. Ginger And Fred
2. Save My Shark
3. Hulas Z Tam
4. Tomorrowpan
5. Breakheart Pass
6. All Spirit
7. Giveittoemstraight
8. Symphony In Motion
(Yonkers Raceway)