Yonkers: Blue Chip Matchmaker series features best older pacing mares

Yonkers Raceway hosts the rich Blue Chip Matchmaker series for free for all mares starting this Friday. Virtually every top older pacing mare in the country is signed on to one of the five $40,000 divisions.

The morning line favorite and standout performer in leg one (race 3) is Krispy Apple. Fresh off a strong qualifier at the Meadowlands in 1:52 3/5, the 4-year-old PJ Fraley trainee will need to overcome post 7 at the Yonkers half-mile oval. She will face a pair of elders coming off Open Handicap wins at the track. Keepers Destiny (6yo) has won her last two starts at Yonkers and the 8-year-old Breakheart Pass has captured two of her last three Open tries.

The second division (race 4) standout could be Western Silk. The 5-year-old has earned over $1.5 million in her career and gets leading driver George Brennan in the bike. New Album draws the rail for trainer Fraley, who seems to have a horse in every race in the series. She comes off a successful sophomore campaign and is making her first start of 2012 after a pair of qualifiers.

Anndrovette will be a heavy favorite in split three (race 5). The current Older Pacing Mare of the Year trounced her foes at the Meadowlands in the $101,750 Overbid final last week and should be pointed down the road once again tonight.

The seventh race on the 12-race card is the fourth division, and arguably the most wide open on paper. Symphony In Motion is the listed 8-5 favorite despite finishing a no-excuse third in a qualifier last week. Shacked Up earned over $274k in 2011, topping all of her Friday competitors. She ships in from Dover off a fine effort and should be sharper in just her second start of 2012. Another making her second start of the year is Myluvmylife. The 4-year-old scored in her seasonal debut for the powerful Ron Burke barn but will have to overcome outside post eight.

Wrapping up the Matchmaker action is the much anticipated return of See You At Peelers in race eight. The now 4-year-old mare captured the racing world when she reeled off 22 wins to begin her career. With three qualifiers under her belt the daughter of Bettor’s Delight should be tight and ready. Her main foes will be fellow millionaires Chancey Lady and Ginger And Fred, who are both exiting the Overbid series.

The Matchmaker series continues each Friday for five consecutive weeks. The final is slated for April 28.

Post time each night is 7:10 pm.