For the third consecutive year trainer Peter Tritton will arrive at Yonkers Raceway for the $373,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker and $532,000 George Morton Levy finals with a chance at taking home the winner’s share of each race. In 2017 he tasted victory with Mackenzie A in the Matchmaker and 2016 produced a win by Bit Of A Legend N in the Levy. In 2018 Tritton shows up with a similar cast, though one of his finalists was close to sitting out the Matchmaker series. “I didn’t nominate her until the last day,” said Tritton of Sell A Bit N, who finished second in the 2016 final of the event. The trainer admitted he was fonder then and remains a bigger fan of last year’s series champion Mackenzie A. “[Sell A Bit N] had been racing good in the Opens and I thought if we left her out of the series she would end up drawing post eight all the time.” The move has been a more than pleasant surprise for Tritton, as Sell A Bit N enters Saturday’s (April 21) final in prime condition and with a major chance. “I definitely think Shartin N is the horse to beat,” said Tritton. Tritton concedes that Shartin N has been superior to this division during much of the opening round action. Last week was a different story as Shartin N made multiple breaks and finished up the track. “I think Jim (King Jr) and Tim (Tetrick) know what they are doing. I think that mare got fired up a little last week and they couldn’t calm her down,” said Tritton. While Shartin N has the draw advantage over Sell A Bit N, the trainer wasn’t exactly concerned. “My mare can leave out of there pretty good and she does her best racing on the front end.” The Blue Chip Matchmaker final will see Shartin N start from the pole with Sell A Bit N in post two. There could be plenty of early speed with Lady Shadow (post 4) and preliminary leg winners Twinkle (post 7) and Lakeisha Hall (post 8) likely to be involved. Mackenzie A didn’t qualify for the final after coming up a little short in last week’s final prelim. She’ll have a chance to pad her career earnings in the $75,000 Consolation carded as race seven. “I think she’s the best in there. Had L A Delight (post 8) drawn inside I might not be saying that,” Tritton said. Mackenzie A has had some issues in the series and Tritton said that he would likely give her some time off after Saturday night and may skip a few races. “We’ve got her eligible to the Roses Are Red and Breeders Crown. If she’s good I may go in the Betsy Ross (Harrah’s Philadelphia on May 27),” said Tritton. There’s no doubt in either Tritton or driver Jordan Stratton’s mind how good Bit Of A Legend N is right now. “Jordan said after last week that if we draw between one and three we would win this week,” said Tritton of the Levy final. After the draw on Monday, Bit Of A Legend N got number seven for the $532,000 finale carded as race 10 of a dozen on Saturday night. “We’ll have to see how it goes,” said Tritton. “I’ll leave it up to Jordan to decide what to do.” The 2016 Levy champion won two preliminary legs and finished second twice, including an explosive closing effort in last week’s contest. “He’s just a happy horse. He’ll give you everything he’s got,” said Tritton of the 9-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight that needs just under $9,000 to move over the $2 million mark in career earnings, with a majority of that earned since arriving in North America. “He’s just a great gaited horse that’s probably just as good on a big track,” said Tritton. “It’s just that he has an advantage over many on the small track.” The Levy final will be imposing and that could play to a closers advantage if the pace gets testy. Western Fame (post 1) and Dr J Hanover (post 2) may make it very difficult for other leavers to get the front end. At the same time, Evenin Of Pleasure (post 4) has shown the capacity to out-leave the starting gate. Last year’s Levy champion Keystone Velocity also enters the race in top form for trainer Rene Allard and driver Dan Dube. With post three he could benefit greatly from early over-activity. The rugged Somewhere In L A (post 5), Mach It So (post 6) and Rockin Ron (post 8) round out an exceptional field. Tritton indicated that Bit Of A Legend N would likely be pointed towards the Camluck (May 26) at Western Fair and then go on the following week to the Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park, both over half-mile ovals. FULL CARD ANALYSIS FOR THE YONKERS SATURDAY CARD