Driver Mark MacDonald finally appears to have a foothold on the racing scene at Yonkers. Since arriving in 2012 from Ontario, MacDonald’s services have been more in demand and his ability to guide top-level talent has been assured. This weekend MacDonald has a host of proven commodities to guide in divisions of the Blue Chip Matchmaker on Friday night and George Morton Levy series Saturday. MacDonald sounded more than confident in Annabeth, a 7-year-old mare by Shadow Play that landed post three in the $40,000 first Matchmaker division on Friday. “She had a real good trip in the first round and she didn’t fire. I think she might have tied up,” said MacDonald. “Last week we got away last in a six-horse field and couldn’t get into the race.” Annabeth has shown open talent this year and MacDonald appears hopeful that a better post may make the difference. “If you look back she shows nothing but outside posts,” MacDonald said. Annabeth landed post three in the sixth race on Friday and will be looking to work out a more favorable journey. MacDonald will be reunited with Regil Elektra, a $1 million winner lifetime that has missed the board in her two Blue Chip Matchmaker legs thus far. “I haven’t been watching her,” said MacDonald, who has been racing against the mare. “Actually I owned her dam (Top Time Notcher). We claimed her and she raced in Opens at Windsor. She was a pretty tough mare herself.” Regil Elektra landed post five in a stacked field that includes Lady Shadow (post 1), Shartin N (post 4) and Motu Moonbeam (post 8), all three owning leg victories in the series. MacDonald will be on the outside looking in with Clear Idea (post 7) in the final of four Blue Chip Matchmaker divisions on Friday. “She’s always been a good one,” said MacDonald of Clear Idea, one of two 4-year-old mares entered in the series this week. “She was a top filly on the New York Sire Stakes last year and was competitive racing against Open Mares here last fall.” Clear Idea was 17 times first or second in 21 starts last year but has failed to win in four starts in 2018. Blake MacIntosh trains Clear Idea as well as another horse in partnership with MacDonald. “We’ve got a 2-year-old sister to Scandalicious that’s training well right now,” said MacDonald. On Saturday night the MacIntosh-MacDonald combine will send out Sports Column, also a 4-year-old and also saddled with the outside draw. “He raced really good last time,” said MacDonald. “He’s a really nice horse and I think he can go with these horses. Maybe not this week.” Sports Column was a solid Ontario-based horse at 2 and 3-years of age. “He finished second to Huntsville in a stake at Hoosier Park last year,” said MacDonald of the neck loss in a 1:49 1/5 mile in the Jennas Beach Boy. Sports Column has a tall order with two-leg winner Dr J Hanover (post 4) and 2016 Levy Champ Bit Of A Legend N (post 6) in this division. Perhaps the highlight of MacDonald’s 2017 season was picking up the drive behind the Jimmy Takter-trained Pure Country in late July. The switch of drivers seemed to coincide with a rejuvenation of the mare’s form and Pure Country would go on to capture the Breeders Crown and TVG Mares final with MacDonald in the bike. Takter also entrusted MacDonald to pilot Western Fame for most of his 4-year-old season and the pair reconnected with a solid outing in last week’s Levy Series. “He’s a much different horse this year,” said MacDonald of Western Fame. “He’s matured. He’s bigger, thicker. He had a good trip last week but he really stormed home and passed some good horses.” Western Fame scored in 1:53 1/5 in his Levy division and enters third round action with the pole position in the tenth race on Saturday and third of four $50,000 divisions. “He was a solid horse last year and won the Confederation Cup and Prix d’Ete,” said MacDonald. “But last week he showed me something he never did as a 4-year-old. I think he’ll be a factor this week and going forward in this series.” Western Fame meets defending Levy champion Keystone Velocity (post 2) as well as two-leg winner Rockin Ron (post 4) in his division. Yonkers Raceway hosts a dozen races on its Friday and Saturday cards with first post listed at 6:50 p.m.