Yonkers: Blue Chip Matchmaker sweep for Stratton

A trio of New Zealand imports - For The Ladies N, Sell A Bit N, and Al Raza N - provided driver Jordan Stratton with a sweep of the three $40,000 splits of the third round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for open pacing mares on Friday night at Yonkers Raceway.

Al Raza N completed Stratton's hat trick and remained undefeated in the Matchmaker with a 1:53 tally in the final division. She tracked second-over behind Anndrovette (Tim Tetrick) en route to the 1:25 1/5 three-quarters and then came wide for the stretch drive. She got the advantage over pace-setter Yagonnakissmeornot (Dan Dube) and Anndrovette early in the lane, and then held off a closing Mach It A Par (George Brennan) by half a length on the wire.

Agostino Abbatiello trains Al Raza N, a 6-year-old mare by Gotta Go Cullect, for owner Durazzano Stable LLC. of New York Al Raza N posted her 16th career victory from 42 starts, and she has now earned over $224,000. She paid $4.10 to win.

Stratton's other two victories came courtesy of mares owned by Harry von Knoblauch and trained by Peter Tritton.

For The Ladies N, sent off as the longest shot on the board at 19-1 in the Matchmaker opener for the evening, swept from last-to-first in the stretch for a 1:53 1/5 score. Regil Elektra (Tim Tetrick), who took over the lead from first-over past the 1:24 3/5 three-quarters, wound up second by a neck with Jungle Genie N (Matt Kakaley) back in third.

The winner is a 7-year-old daughter of Jereme's Jet, and she now has 19 career victories and a bankroll of more than $281,000. For The Ladies N returned $40.40 to her backers.

Sell A Bit N, a winner in the Matchmaker last Friday, doubled up this week. She led through fractions of 27 4/5, 56 4/5, and 1:25 2/5 and then sealed the deal with a 27 3/5 final quarter to win by just over a length in 1:53. Race favorite Venus Delight (Jason Bartlett) tried the winner from first-over in the final panel but had to settle for second, and Skippin By (Yannick Gingras) got third after a two-hole trip.

A 6-year-old mare by Julius Caesar, Sell A Bit N got the 18th victory of her racing career, and she has now banked over $263,000. She paid $7.10 as the second choice in the wagering.

“(For the Ladies N) was definitely helped by fast fractions and a short field, while the other two (Sell a Bit N and Al Raza N) always race well,” Stratton—now an honorary Kiwi—said.

“I’ve been fortunate they haven’t drawn in against one another.”

--quote courtesy of Yonkers Raceway--