Yonkers: Apple Bottom Jeans rolls again, Shartin upset in Blue Chip Matchmaker action

Apple Bottom Jeans is the lone contender left who has a chance to sweep this year's edition of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series as she overcame post eight easily on her way to a 1:53 3/5 score in the second of four $40,000 divisions of the second leg of the series for pacing mares at Yonkers Raceway.

Driver Corey Callahan guided Apple Bottom Jeans to the point late on the first turn from the outside draw, and she was able to control the action through fractions of 27 3/5, 56 3/5, and 1:25 1/5. Apple Bottom Jeans then stepped away from the field in the final quarter, rolling to a three-length victory over pocket-sitter Twinkle (Scott Zeron). Medusa (Jim Marohn Jr.) got third.

The winning 6-year-old Mr Apples mare is trained by Dylan Davis for the ownership group of Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Robert Cooper Stables LLC., and Thomas Lazzaro. She picked up her 29th lifetime win, and she boosted her bankroll to $722,222. The even-money favorite, she paid $4.10 to win.

Round one winner, defending series champion, and Dan Patch Award winner Shartin (Tim Tetrick) was also saddled with the eight post in the final flight, but her trip was a nightmare as she was three-wide from fifth in the back-half of the mile and had to settle for fourth in the end. Taking advantage of her situation was Feelin Red Hot (George Brennan), who rolled right down the road through panels of 27 4/5, 57 4/5, and 1:24 2/5 on her way to a 1:53 1/5 victory. She downed pocket-sitting Obvious Blue Chip (Zeron) by 2 1/4 lengths, with Seaswift Joy (Marohn Jr.), another first-leg winner, a first-over third.

Feelin Red Hot, a 6-year-old daughter of Feelin Friskie, is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. She made her 23rd appearance in the winner's circle, and she has now earned $300,479. A 5-1 offering, she returned $13.20 to win.

While the connections (driver Tetrick, trainer Jim King Jr., and owners Tetrick, Richard Poilucci, and Joann Looney-King) had a disappointing result with Shartin, they did pick up a win in the third division with New Zealand import Bettor Joy. Bettor Joy tracked from fifth through stations of 28, 58, and 1:25 3/5, then rallied three-wide from second-over through the lane to prevail by a length in 1:53 4/5. Pace-setting Ideal Lifestyle (Brennan) was second after winning her Matchmaker test last week, and Gold Orchid (Jason Bartlett), who towed the winner into the race from first-over, was third.

A 5-year-old mare by Bettor's Delight, Bettor Joy is now a 12-time winner, and she shows $260,484 in earnings. The 2-1 second choice, she paid $6.50 to win.

Back in the night's opening Matchmaker contest, Australian-bred Dont Think Twice (Bartlett), who was a closing second to Shartin last week, did one spot better this Friday night, winning in 1:54. She pressed on to the point from post seven passing the 27 2/5 opening quarter, put a 57-second half and a 1:25 2/5 three-quarters on the board, and went on to a one-length decision. Newborn Sassy (Tetrick) was second from the two-hole, and Kaitlyn (Matt Kakaley) was up from second-over for third.

Trainer Andrew Harris also co-owns Dont Think Twice, a 6-year-old daughter of Armbro Operative, with partners Arrhythmic LLC., Pollack Racing LLC., and Jeff Cullipher. She grabbed career win number 20, and she has now put away $267,120. The 2-1 second favorite, she returned $6.00 to win.